N Korea touts anti-aircraft missile testAP, SEOULNorth Korea yesterday said it had test-fired a newly developed anti-aircraft missile in the fourth round of weapons firings in the past few weeks, even as it pushes to reopen dormant communication channels with South Korea in a small reconciliation step. Photo: EPA-EFEThe North’s Korean Central News Agency said that the anti-aircraft missile test was “of very practical significance in studying and developing various prospective anti-aircraft missile systems.”It said the test was aimed at confirming the practicality of operation of the launcher, radar and battle command vehicle as well as the combat performance of the missile. South Korea, Japan and the US usually confirm North Korean missile launches soon after they occur, but did not do so for the latest test, indicating that it might not have been a major weapons test. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said that South Korean and US intelligence authorities monitored related moves by North Korea, but did not elaborate. As of yesterday morning, North Korea remained unresponsive to Seoul’s attempts to exchange messages over the channels, the South Korean Unifications Ministry said.

Source: Taipei Times October 01, 2021 15:56 UTC