SEOUL, Republic of Korea (ROK) (AP) — North Korea said Friday it had test-fired a newly developed anti-aircraft missile in the fourth round of weapons firings in recent weeks, even as it pushes to reopen stalled communication channels with rival Republic of Korea (ROK) in a small reconciliation step.


In September, North Korea resumed its first missile tests in six months but still offered conditional talks with Seoul in what some experts say is an attempt to extract outside concessions. Earlier this week, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un expressed his willingness to restore communication hotlines with Republic of Korea (ROK) in coming days to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.


The Korean Central News Agency said the anti-aircraft missile test is "of very practical significance in studying and developing various prospective anti-aircraft missile system."


It said the test was aimed at confirming the practicality of operation of the launcher, radar and comprehensive battle command vehicle as well as the comprehensive combat performance of the missile.


Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and the United States typically publicly confirm soon after North Korea carry out missile tests. But the North's neighboring countries didn't report its Thursday test, suggesting it may not be a major weapons test.


While announcing his intentions to reopen the hotlines during his speech at parliament, Kim still shrugged off U.S. offers for dialogue as "cunning ways" to conceal its hostility against the North and defending his country's latest weapons tests.


Kim also echoed his powerful sister Kim Yo Jong's demand that Republic of Korea (ROK) abandon "double-dealing attitude" and "hostile viewpoint" over the North's missile tests and other developments if it wants to see the resumption of talks and major stalled reconciliation steps.


Some experts say North Korea is pressuring Republic of Korea (ROK) not to criticize its ballistic missile tests, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions, as part of its quest to receive an international recognition as a nuclear power. Others say North Korea wants Republic of Korea (ROK) to persuade the United States to ease punishing economic international sanctions on it.


Ahead of Thursday's launch, North Korea also test-fired a hypersonic missile for the first time, a newly developed cruise missile and a ballistic missile from a train, a new launch platform. Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military assessed the hypersonic missile to be at an early stage of development, but experts say the two previous missile tests displayed the North's ability to attack targets in Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, both key U.S. allies in the region.


North Korea hasn't tested a long-range missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland for about four years, an indication it wants to keep the chances for future diplomacy with the U.S. alive.

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