A new type of a tactical guided missile is launched from the North Korean town of Hamju, South Hamgyong Province, on March 25, 2021 (Photo: Yonhap/ VNA)

The United States condemned the launches and warned of a threat to international peace and security. The launches, North Korea’s first ballistic missile tests in nearly a year, pointed to steady progress in its weapons program amid stalled denuclearisation talks with the United States.

President Biden said on Thursday that the United States remains open to diplomacy with North Korea despite its recent missile tests, but warned there would be responses if North Korea escalates matters. The State Department later condemned the ballistic missile launches as destabilizing. 

The new weapon is based on existing technology that was improved to carry a 2.5-ton warhead, KCNA reported.