North Korea says it tested a cruise missile system, its third known weapons display this year, and vowed “the toughest” response to what it called the escalation of U.S.

The underwater-to-surface cruise missiles travelled 1,500km and flew between 7,507 and 7,511 seconds before hitting their targets

SEOUL: North Korea conducted on Jan 25 a strategic cruise missile test, state media KCNA reported on Jan 26. The country's leader, Kim Jong Un, oversaw the test, according to the report which described it as a test-fire of an "important weapon system."

Test overseen by Kim Jong Un to enhance Pyongyang’s defense capabilities, according to state media - Anadolu Ajansı

The moves suggested North Korea will likely maintain its run of weapons tests and its confrontational stance against the US.

North Korea test-fired strategic cruise missiles on Saturday the official Korean Central News Agency reported, marking a third launch this month as Donald Trump returned to power in the US.