North Korea yesterday afternoon conducted a "very important" test at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, a top official with the country's Academy of the National Defence Science said in a statement on Sunday.

"A very important test took place at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on the afternoon of December 7, 2019," a spokesperson for the academy said, adding the results of the test had been reported to the North Korean ruling party's Central Committee.