North Korea missile test adds to 'Military First' celebration

PYONGYANG, North Korea -- North Korea marked its "Military First" holiday Thursday with mass dancing, outdoor concerts and boasts of a successful -- and potentially game-changing -- submarine-launched ballistic missile test it hopes will serve as a warning to Washington and Seoul to stop holding joint military exercises Pyongyang sees as a dress rehearsal for invasion.

Television news broadcasts and the front pages of morning newspapers Thursday showed images of the launch, conducted in the early hours the day before. The test, which brought immediate condemnation from the United States and North Korea's neighbors, sent a "Pukguksong" missile soaring from a submerged position off the North's port city of Sinpo. It flew an estimated 310 miles toward the seas around Japan, the longest distance North Korea has achieved in a submarine launch.

Kim was shown smiling and hugging officials after watching the test from an observation deck. Launching long-range ballistic missiles from submarines is stealthier than land launching.

That capability could strengthen North Korea's ability to conduct strikes on U.S. positions in South Korea, and possibly on U.S. bases in Japan as well.

The North has attempted two such launches before, but neither was seen as successful by outside experts.

As the news of the missile test was broadcast on a large screen outside Pyongyang's main train station Thursday, dozens of people stood in the rain to watch.

The test came as the U.S. and South Korea are conducting their annual, 12-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises south of the Demilitarized Zone.