North Korea develops rocket launch controller, state media reports

SEOUL (Reuters) -- North Korea has successfully developed a new ballistic control system for a multiple rocket launcher and controllable shells, state media KCNA reported on Monday.

The Academy of Defence Science, which oversees the country's missile development, conducted a "ballistic control" test-firing of 240-mm caliber controllable multiple rocket launcher shells on Sunday, KCNA said.

KCNA said the strategic value of the 240 mm-caliber multiple rocket launcher will be "reevaluated" and its role in battlefields will also increase due to what it called "rapid technical improvement."

The development of the shell and the ballistic control system will make a "qualitative change" in its army's multiple rocket launcher force, the report added.

Sunday's launch comes amid multiple missile tests by North Korea in recent weeks and growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow -- moves that have been criticized by the U.S. and its allies as escalating tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea has accused the U.S. and South Korea of escalating tensions with their large-scale military drills.