Our top story this lunchtime...
North Korea has given itself a pat on the back regarding its recent launch... which it claims was a so-called 'super-large multiple rocket launcher.'
Our Kim Ji-yeon starts us off.
Boasting of its latest launch,... North Korea said it had successfully tested a super-large multiple rocket launcher.
Its state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Friday the firing served as an opportunity to verify the perfection of its firing system.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was not present at the test-firing, but was reported to be satisfied with the launch.
A South Korean military source confirmed the launch appeared to be a test-fire of a super-large multiple rocket launcher.
But Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it has no plans to release further details... to prevent exposure of South Korea's capability to collect security-related information.
The Joint Chiefs said Thursday that the North had launched two short-range projectiles from the North's western region towards the East Sea.
They flew roughly 370 kilometers with a maximum altitude of around 90 kilometers.
The projectiles flew across land,... which experts say normally demonstrates the regime's confidence that the test will be successful.
This is the third time this year that the North had test-fired a super-large multiple rocket launcher.
South Korean military sources and experts say the accuracy of the missile improves when the size of the launcher is bigger.
The North had test-fired two projectiles from its super-large rocket launcher in September, one of them is believed to have missed its target.
The U.S. is also monitoring the situation.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon told Seoul-based Yonhap News late Thursday the U.S. is looking into the latest launch... while closely working with its allies South Korea and Japan for more information.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.