Kim Jong Un oversaw military exercises that included the launch of "new and super large" missile launchers

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw military exercises that included the launch of "new and super-large" missile launchers, state media reported on March 19, a day after Seoul said Pyongyang had launched short-range ballistic missiles.

The United States and South Korea concluded one of their largest joint military exercises last week, sparking anger in the North.

North Korea has condemned all exercises by Washington and Seoul, which it has described as preparations for an invasion.

Seoul's military said Monday it had detected a North Korean "intermediate-range ballistic missile" that was launched while US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was in the South Korean capital for talks.

The super-large rocket launcher, which Seoul and the Washington military call the KN-25, is a short-range ballistic missile, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The North claims the weapon can be equipped with a tactical nuclear warhead.

North Korea's state-run news agency said Kim had watched drills testing the "real war capabilities" of the 600mm rocket launcher as he stressed the importance of "wartime preparations".

According to Kim, this missile launcher will help the North "block and suppress the possibility of war with the perfect readiness to destroy the enemy's capital."

Pyongyang this month warned Seoul and Washington that it would pay a "heavy price" for its military exercises, then announced that Kim had said his country's artillery unit was capable of hitting the South Korean capital.

Monday's ballistic missile test was the second test this year, with the North declaring the South its "main enemy" and the country abandoning its bid to unify the two Koreas.

Washington, a key ally of Seoul, has stationed nearly 27.000 US troops in South Korea to help Seoul defend itself against Pyongyang.