North Korea says its test launch of a new type of tactical ballistic missile should serve as a “solemn warning” to South Korea over plans to hold military exercises with the US.

In a statement directed at the “South Korean military warmongers” on state media, Kim Jong-un boasted that Thursday’s test “must have given uneasiness and agony to some targeted forces”.

Kim Jong-un personally supervised the launch of the two missiles, state news agency KCNA said, which according to a joint US-South Korea analysis both flew distances of more than 600km before landing in the Sea of Japan.

Mr Kim said the test was “a solemn warning” and accused South Koreans of “double dealing” for saying they support peace but simultaneously importing new weapons and conducting military drills.

“We cannot but develop non-stop super-powerful weapon systems to remove the potential and direct threats to the security of our country that exist in the south,” Mr Kim was quoted as saying.

North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Show all 18 1 /18 North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants wave flowers AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (R) waves with China's Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Li Zhanshu (L) from a balcony AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Airplanes forming the number 70 fly in formation and fire flares AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean performers dance EPA North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean military officers applaud near portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean tanks roll past AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants cheer as they take part in a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018. North Korea staged a major military parade, huge rallies and will revive its iconic mass games on Sunday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Ng Han Guan AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers take part AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers march AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants march during a mass rally on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary A girl reacts during a parade AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, reacts as he chats with China's third highest ranking official, Li Zhanshu AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary People carry flags in front of statues of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung (L) and late leader Kim Jong Il Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Performers take part in a concert at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean artillery roll past AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Students perform Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Soldiers march during a military parade Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants wave flowers AFP/Getty

An official at Seoul’s defence ministry said the missiles were believed to be a new type of short-range ballistic missile, an assessment echoed on Friday by the US-South Korea Combined Forces Command (CFC).

The official also said the missiles bore features similar to Russia’ SS-26 Iskander and the ones the north tested in May – a relatively small, fast missile that experts say is easier to hide, launch and manoeuvre in flight.

A spokesperson for the CFC said in a statement the launches were “not a threat directed at [South Korea] or the US, and have no impact on our defence posture”.

And while the North Korean statement had harsh words for South Korea, analysts noted it steered clear of the kind of belligerent attacks towards the US that have marked past announcements. This could suggest that the north still wants to keep the prospect of diplomacy alive.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo played down Thursday’s launches and said in an interview with Bloomberg TV that working-level talks with North Korea could start “in a couple of weeks”.

“Everybody tries to get ready for negotiations and create leverage and create risk for the other side,” Mr Pompeo said of the launches.

Speaking on Fox News, US president Donald Trump insisted he was still getting along “very well” with Mr Kim and played down Thursday’s test.