Update at 1400 EST: This article has been updated to include comment from a U.S. State Department spokesperson.

A top North Korean army official declared Saturday night that a new strategic weapon under development has benefited greatly from recent tests conducted by the Academy of Defence Science (ADS).

The statement from chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Pak Jong Chon, released by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), came just hours after the country announced that it conducted a “crucial” new test at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on Friday night.

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