North Korea says its latest weapons test was a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to strike targets in the Pacific as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further expand his collection of nuclear-capable weapons to counter rivals.

North Korea successfully tested a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile on Monday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the launch, reports Reuters. The launch marked North Korea's first missile test since November 5.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a successful test of a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile (IRBM) on Monday, state media KCNA said on Tuesday, pledging to accelerate the country's nuclear and missile capabilities.

North Korean state broadcaster KRT on Tuesday showed video of the country's latest missile test, a day after neighbour South Korea had detected it. The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the missile was fired from a suburb of the capital city Pyongyang and reached a peak altitude of 99.