A U.S. defense official on Thursday dismissed North Korea 's claim of testing newly developed missiles . `` There is no indication of new North Korean technology , '' said the official , who spoke on the condition of anonymity . The U.S. military monitored what the defense official described as the routine launch of short-range missiles . Earlier , North Korea 's state-run news agency KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong Un had `` guided the test-fire of newly developed cutting-edge ultra-precision tactical guided missiles . '' `` At the central monitoring post he acquainted himself with the tactical and technological information of the newly developed guided missiles before giving an order to test-fire them . `` The moment the guided missiles soared into the sky with thunderous roar , '' the report read . According to the U.S. and South Korean governments , North Korea launched three projectiles from its southeastern coast . `` I think we 're always concerned whenever North Korea launches anything , '' said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf . She added : `` We 're monitoring the situation , and we 're still evaluating the available information to identify the exact type of projectile that may have been launched . '' Kim Min-seok , a spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry , said Friday that what North Korea launched appears to have been an improvement of an existing weapon , rather than an entirely new technology . The improvements were in the weapon 's range and the guided technology , he told a regular news briefing . From the North Korean military 's point of view , the weapon may be new , Kim said , `` but if you look at the international trend , this weapon technology was developed before . '' North Korea ups stakes with latest missile launch . INTERACTIVE : North Korea 's missile capacities .
South Korea says the launch showed improvements in an existing weapon . KCNA : North Korea fires `` cutting-edge ultra-precision tactical guided missiles '' `` There is no indication of new North Korean technology , '' says a U.S. defense official . According to the U.S. and South Korea , North Korea launched three projectiles .