ANKARA

China on Friday said it has carried out a land-based midcourse missile interception test.

The test “achieved its expected purpose,” the Defense Ministry said in a brief statement.

The test was defensive in nature and not directed at any country, the ministry added.

China also conducted a similar test of land-based midcourse missile interception technology last June.

Only a few countries in the world currently have this technology, according to China Military Online, the official news website of the Chinese army.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid