North Korea’s missile tests comes after it threatened an “unprecedentedly persistent, strong” response ahead of annual joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States.
The ICBM launch was condemned by the US, South Korea and Japan, as well as the G7 group of nations and the European Union.
State news agency KCNA reported that the first drill “was suddenly organised without previous notice”, and that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had personally signed off on the test.
It added that the test was “clear proof” of the reliability of North Korea’s “powerful physical nuclear deterrent”.
South Korea’s National Security Council convened a meeting following Saturday’s launch, and agreed to increase cooperation on security with Washington and Japan.