Beijing: China's Defence Ministry on Thursday indirectly confirmed a report it had carried out another test of a new intercontinental missile.

The Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday reported that China had on April 12 again tested a new long-range missile called the DF-41.

It did not say where the test took place but noted it came ahead of a visit by US Defence Secretary Ash Carter to the aircraft carrier USS Stennis in the South China Sea.