8 December

North Korea says it conducted a test "of great significance" at its Sohae satellite launching ground on Saturday afternoon.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency released a statement by a spokesperson for the Academy of National Defense Science on Sunday. It said the results of the test will have an important effect on changing the strategic position of North Korea in the near future. But the statement did not specify what was tested.

Analysts say the test may have been related to the country's missile program. The North has fired what were believed to be long-range ballistic missiles from the site at Tongchang-ri in the past. The country claimed they were satellite-carrying rockets. The site was once used for missile engine testing as well.

North Korea is apparently trying to keep the United States in check by hinting at the possibility of resuming long-range ballistic missile launches. The North has been urging the US to make concessions by year-end to break the deadlock in denuclearization talks.—NHK