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North Korea test-fires ballistic missile, South Korea confirms North Korea test-fires what could be new kind of missile
(about 1 hour later)
North Korea has fired a ballistic missile from a region near its west coast that flew 700 kilometres (430 miles), according to South Korea’s military, days after a new leader took office in the south pledging to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang. North Korea has fired what Japan said could be a new type of missile from a region near its west coast that flew 700 kilometres before dropping into the sea.
The missile was fired early on Sunday from a region named Kusong located north-west of Pyongyang, where North Korea previously test-launched an intermediate-range missile it is believed to be developing, the last time in February. The missile was fired early on Sunday, days after a new leader took office in the South pledging to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang.
Japan said the missile flew for 30 minutes and dropped into the sea between the north’s east coast and Japan. It was launched from a region named Kusong located north-west of Pyongyang, where the North Korea previously test-launched an intermediate-range missile it is believed to be developing, the last time in February.
Japan said the missile flew for 30 minutes before splashing down into the sea between the north’s east coast and Japan.
Australia’s defence minister, Marise Payne, said: “Australia regards this as a reckless and provocative action that leads to instability both regional and globally and has condemned clearly in the past North Korea for this sort of behaviour and we do so again.”
Sunday’s launch is the first in two weeks since the last attempt to fire a missile ended in a failure just minutes into its flight.Sunday’s launch is the first in two weeks since the last attempt to fire a missile ended in a failure just minutes into its flight.
Japan swiftly issued a protest. Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, said North Korea’s firing of a ballistic missile was a violation of UN resolutions and that Japan strongly protested against the action. Japan’s prime minister, Shinzō Abe, repeated the protest in comments to reporters.Japan swiftly issued a protest. Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, said North Korea’s firing of a ballistic missile was a violation of UN resolutions and that Japan strongly protested against the action. Japan’s prime minister, Shinzō Abe, repeated the protest in comments to reporters.
“North Korea’s repeated missile launches are a grave threat to our country and a clear violation of UN resolutions,” Abe told reporters, adding that Japan will stay in close touch with the United States and South Korea.“North Korea’s repeated missile launches are a grave threat to our country and a clear violation of UN resolutions,” Abe told reporters, adding that Japan will stay in close touch with the United States and South Korea.
The launch is the first since a new liberal president took office in South Korea on Wednesday saying dialogue as well as pressure must be used to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula and stop the north’s pursuit of weapons.The launch is the first since a new liberal president took office in South Korea on Wednesday saying dialogue as well as pressure must be used to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula and stop the north’s pursuit of weapons.
President Moon Jae-in has called an emergency National Security Council meeting in response to the launch, according to a statement issued from the presidential Blue House.President Moon Jae-in has called an emergency National Security Council meeting in response to the launch, according to a statement issued from the presidential Blue House.
The north attempted but failed to test-launch ballistic missiles on four consecutive occasions in the past two months but has conducted a variety of missile testing since the beginning of last year at an unprecedented pace.The north attempted but failed to test-launch ballistic missiles on four consecutive occasions in the past two months but has conducted a variety of missile testing since the beginning of last year at an unprecedented pace.
Weapons experts and government officials believe the north has accomplished some technical progress with those tests.Weapons experts and government officials believe the north has accomplished some technical progress with those tests.