North Korea's state media have claimed that it has successfully tested a new weapon that will enhance its tactical nuclear capabilities.

The Hermit kingdom's leader, Kim Jong Un, observed the test and was reported to have given "important instructions on further building up the defence capabilities and nuclear combat forces of the country."They added: "The new-type tactical guided weapon system...is of great significance in drastically improving the firepower of the frontline long-range artillery units and enhancing the efficiency in the operation of tactical nukes."While North Korea's state media did not mention when the test took place or the details of the missile's involved, South Korea's military have detected two projectiles that were launched from the coastal city of Hamhung on Saturday night.

The projectiles reportedly flew approximately 68 miles (110km) with a maximum speed of under Mach 4. Experts have suggested that this is a sign that North Korea are planning to test a compact nuclear weapon soon.This comes after North Korea supposedly stopped testing nuclear weapons back in 2017.The following year, the country would blow up a series of tunnels at its Punggye-ri nuclear testing site, which was viewed as a diplomatic effort to make amends with South Korea and the United States.However, recent satellite images have suggested that this facility is being restored.

Ankit Panda, a senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, informed NK News that the country "may soon test a more compact nuclear device."He would add that, "it doesn't take a tremendous amount of imagination to put this test in context alongside the reconstitutive activities at Punggye-ri"This is the 12th missile test that North Korea has performed this year and the first since a mysterious intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was launched on the 25th March.The missile launch has come just before a possible military parade, that will supposedly take place on the 25th of April, to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army.