North Korea confirms test of missile designed to be launched from submarine

North Korea announced Wednesday that it had tested a newly developed missile designed to be launched from a submarine, the first such weapons test in two years and one it says will bolster its military's underwater operational capability.

The test Tuesday was the fifth round of missile launches since September and came as North Korea steps up pressure on Washington and Seoul to abandon what Pyongyang sees as hostile polices such as joint U.S.-South Korea military drills and international sanctions on the North.

North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency said the latest test "will greatly contribute to putting the defense technology of the country on a high level and to enhancing the underwater operational capability of our navy." It said the new missile has introduced advanced control guidance technologies including flank mobility and gliding skip mobility.