North Korea Test-Fires ‘Ultra-Precision’ Anti-Ship Rocket Set To be Deployed Across Its Navy

North Korea has test-fired a newly developed “ultra-precision” intelligent anti-ship rocket, which will be deployed across the country’s naval units, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North’s state-run news agency, reported Saturday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was present at the location where the new “cutting-edge” rocket was test-fired by the navy’s East Sea fleet. According to the KCNA report, Kim watched the exercise from an observation post where he was briefed about the tactical and engineering data of the rocket.

“As the head of the East Sea Fleet ordered the test-firing, the ultra-precision anti-ship rocket blasted off from a rocket boat. The intelligent rocket precisely sought, tracked and hit the 'enemy' ship after taking a safe flight,” KCNA reported, without providing details about the location or date of the event.

According to the report, the new anti-ship rocket is expected to be deployed soon across the country’s military ships in an effort to strengthen the navy’s defense capabilities to better ensure the safety of its territorial waters. The authorities also claim that the new equipment will help the navy strongly react to any military attack by the enemy's fleets of warships.

Kim, who was satisfied with the “perfect development” of the new rocket, called for the production of “more tactical guided weapons of high precision and intelligence.”

The nuclear-capable country has been developing new ballistic missiles and rockets, despite heavy sanctions imposed on Pyongyang by other countries, the Agence France-Presse reported, adding that the North is believed to have been working on missiles that could threaten the U.S. mainland.

Meanwhile, two U.S. lawmakers submitted a new bill on Thursday, calling for strengthening sanctions against North Korea over the communist nation’s alleged involvement in a massive cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment in November, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported Friday.

The bill is targeted to control Pyongyang’s access to hard currency and other goods. It also asks the U.S. government to use all possible means to impose sanctions on North Korea, as well as other countries and companies that help the nation in developing nuclear weapons.

“North Korea continues to threaten the United States and our close allies with its nuclear, missile, and now cyber capabilities,” Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement, adding that the bill is introduced “to step up the targeting of those financial institutions in Asia and beyond that are supporting this brutal and dangerous regime.”