Seoul  - An official North Korean newspaper praised the strength of its military Sunday, one day after South Korea reported seven missile launches from the isolated nation's eastern coast.

Thanks to its policy of giving its military priority, "our revolutionary forces have grown up today as the strong army that can impose merciless punishment against those who offend us," read the commentary in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper.

It went on to report that North Korea's defence industry now has the means for production of a wide series of weapons, without actually mentioning the launches.

The Saturday launches came on top of four missiles that were fired on Thursday. The action won widespread condemnation for North Korea and ratcheted up tensions that were already running high after the nation apparently tested a nuclear missile in May. (dpa)