North Korea Unveils Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile

North Korea unveiled a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile over a new military parade held on Friday. The state-run media described the missile as "the world's most powerful weapon".

Several of the missiles were displayed at a parade overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, reported state media.

The weapon's actual capabilities remain unclear, as it is not known to have been tested, according to the BBC site.

The show of military strength comes days before the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president.

It also follows a rare political meeting where Kim decried the US as his country's "biggest enemy".

Images released by North Korean state media showed at least four large black-and-white missiles being driven past flag-waving crowds.

Clad in a leather coat and fur hat, Kim is pictured smiling and waving as he watched the display in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square, which also included infantry troops, artillery, and tanks.

The event on Thursday did not showcase North Korea's largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was unveiled at a much larger military parade in October.

That colossal weapon is believed to be able to deliver a nuclear warhead to anywhere in the US, and its size had surprised even seasoned analysts when it was put on a show last year.

The country's latest display of its arsenal comes at the end of a five-yearly congress of the ruling Workers' Party.

In his address to members last week, Kim had pledged to expand North Korea's nuclear weapons and military potential, outlining a list of desired weapons including long-range ballistic missiles capable of being launched from land or sea and "super-large warheads".

He also said that the US was Pyongyang's "biggest obstacle for our revolution and our biggest enemy... no matter who is in power, the true nature of its policy against North Korea will never change".

Under Kim's leadership, North Korea has made rapid progress in its weapons programme, which it says is necessary to defend itself against a possible US invasion.