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North Korea submarine fires ballistic missile North Korea submarine fires ballistic missile
(about 2 hours later)
North Korea has fired a submarine-based ballistic missile, drawing condemnation from the US. North Korea has fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast, say the US and South Korea.
The KN-11 missile was launched off the coast of Sinpo and flew about 500km (300 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan, a US official said. The KN-11 missile was launched from waters near Sinpo and flew about 500km (300 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan, a US official said.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the missile had fallen inside Japan's Air Defence Identification Zone. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile fell inside Japan's Air Defence Identification Zone.
North Korea, believed to be developing nuclear weapons, is banned by the UN from any use of ballistic missiles. It comes as South Korea and the US begin annual military drills, which routinely anger Pyongyang.
The reported test follows an attempted launch last month that South Korea said failed in its initial flight stage. Ulchi Freedom involves about 80,000 US and South Korean troops in a largely computer-simulated defence of South Korea from a fictional North Korean invasion.
It took place as foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea were meeting in Tokyo. North Korea, which sees these drills as a rehearsal for invasion, recently warned they were pushing the Korean peninsula towards the brink of a war and threatened a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" in retaliation.
The launch also coincided with a meeting of foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea in Tokyo.
North Korea is banned by the UN from any use of ballistic or nuclear technology. But in recent months it has carried out repeated missile launches, and is believed to be close to conducting its fifth test of a nuclear device.
Wednesday's early morning launch appears to have been its most successful test yet of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
SLBMs are of particular concern because of the mobility of submarines and the ease with which launch preparation can remain undetected.
The South's military said it "seemed to be aimed at raising military tension in response to the Seoul-Washington military drill", the Yonhap news agency reports.
It said it would "sternly and strongly respond to any provocation by North Korea".
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the missile "poses a grave threat to Japan's security, and is an unforgivable act that damages regional peace and stability markedly".
He said Japan had lodged a protest, though did not comment on South Korean reports that the missile fell into Japan's ADIZ, an area of airspace over which a country exercises security controls.
The US State Department said it "strongly condemned" this and previous missile tests and would raise concerns at the UN.The US State Department said it "strongly condemned" this and previous missile tests and would raise concerns at the UN.
Earlier, North Korea warned that current joint military exercises by South Korea and the US - which it sees as a rehearsal for invasion - were pushing the Korean peninsula towards the brink of a war. Last month, the US and South Korea agreed to deploy a missile defence system to counter threats from the North.
Last month, the US and South Korea also agreed to deploy a missile defence system to counter threats from the North. North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests to date - its most recent claimed to have used a hydrogen bomb - but despite its claims, it is not yet believed to have the ability to mount a nuclear device onto a warhead.
In January, North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test, claiming it to be its first using a hydrogen bomb. Pyongyang has also been angered recently by several high profile defections, including its deputy ambassador to the UK, Thae Yong-ho.
Shortly after that Pyongyang launched a satellite, widely seen as a test of long-range missile technology. Mr Thae, thought to be the highest-ranking North Korean official ever to defect, was branded "human scum" by Pyongyang.