North Korea's foreign ministry vowed the "toughest counteraction" against the United States as long as Washington "refuses" the country's sovereignty.

North Korea has test-fired sea-to-surface strategic cruise guided missiles, the North's state media reported Sunday, quoting Kim as saying that Pyongyang's deterrence means are being perfected.

Pyonyang said the tests were carried out "as part of an overall plan to implement efforts to build the country's defence capabilities".

North Korea said Sunday 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.-South Korean military drills that target the North.

North Korea conducted a strategic cruise missile test on Saturday, state media KCNA reported on Sunday. 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.

North Korea has test-fired sea-to-surface strategic cruise guided missiles, the North's state media reported Sunday, quoting Kim as saying that Pyongyang's deterrence means are being perfected. The North's Missile Administration conducted the test-fire the previous day as "part of plans for