North Korea said on Saturday it tested “super large” cruise missile warheads and new anti-aircraft missiles off its western coast as it expands its military capabilities in response to growing tensions with the United States and South Korea.

North Korea’s state media said the country’s missile agency conducted a “power test” of the Hwasal-1 Ra-3 strategic cruise missile warhead on Friday and test-fired a Pyoljji-1-2 anti-aircraft missile. It said the test met an unspecified “specific objective.”

Photos released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency showed at least two missiles fired from a launch vehicle on the runway.

North Korea conducted a series of similar tests on February 2 but did not specify the names of the cruise missiles or anti-aircraft missiles at the time, suggesting it may be seeing technological advancements weeks after testing the same system.

KCNA insisted Friday’s test was part of North Korea’s regular military development activities and had nothing to do with “the surrounding situation.”

Tensions on the Korean peninsula are at their highest in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stepping up weapons displays that include more powerful missiles targeting the U.S. mainland and U.S. targets in the Pacific. The United States, South Korea, and Japan responded by expanding joint military training and strengthening deterrence strategies around U.S. strategic assets.

Cruise missiles are among North Korea’s growing arsenal of weapons designed to take down regional missile defenses. They complement North Korea’s vast ballistic missile fleet, which includes intercontinental ballistic missiles aimed at the U.S. mainland.

Analysts say anti-aircraft missile technology is one area where North Korea could benefit from deepening military cooperation with Russia, as the two countries align themselves in the face of their respective growing confrontations with the United States. The United States and South Korea have both accused North Korea of ​​supplying Russia with artillery shells and other equipment to help expand its war in Ukraine.