North Korea says it tested new nuclear-capable cruise missile

The North Korean government claimed Thursday that it tested a new cruise missile system capable of launching nuclear warheads as tensions rise with South Korea and its allies.

North Korean state media said the Pulhwasal-3-31 missile system is still in its development phases, and the Wednesday launch did not pose a threat to its neighbors. The agency did not provide details on the missile’s flight characteristics.

The South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch had a shorter trajectory than most missile tests, signaling it could have been aimed at refining existing systems.

It’s the country’s second launch of the year, following an experimental missile system test earlier this month. That missile, a solid fuel intermediate ballistic missile, is capable of targeting Japanese and American military bases in the Pacific, North Korea claimed.

South Korean defense analyst Yang Uk told The Associated Press the rise of experimental system tests could signal a shortage of missiles in North Korea because the country is believed to be shipping materials to Russia for use against Ukraine.

Both North Korea and Russia have denied working together, but U.S. and South Korean officials have claimed that a secret arms deal is in place.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has escalated threats against the U.S., South Korea and Japan in recent months as the allied nations increase military cooperation.

Kim has condemned joint military exercises as “invasion rehearsals” and threatened nuclear strikes.

The Associated Press contributed.