North Korea launches unidentified projectile off coast, South Korean military says
North Korea has fired an unidentified projectile off its east coast, South Korea's military said, in what is likely the latest
test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The statement by the Joint Chiefs of Staff early Monday morning did not say what type of projectile was fired or if it was successful.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency, without citing a source, said the projectile is believed to be a ballistic missile, but the South Korean military said it was still analysing what exactly the North launched.
US authorities tracked the six-minute flight until it crashed into the Sea of Japan, the US Pacific Command said.
Balance of the Article
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North Korea launches ballistic missile into sea, South Korea's military says
North Korea has launched a ballistic missile into the sea, South Korea's military says.
The projectile may have landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, Japan's NHK public television said, quoting the Defence Ministry.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement the launch was made from North Korea's North Phyongan province.
The launch was immediately reported to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, according to the statement.
It was not immediately clear if this was a routine firing of a short-range missile or an attempt to perfect North Korea's longer range missiles.
The launch would be the latest in a series by North Korea since the start of the year and comes just one day after US President
Donald Trump spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the issue. More to come.
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UPDATE ...North Korea says it successfully tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting "anywhere in the world",
under the supervision of leader Kim Jong-un.
Key points:- Initial assessments said missile was "intermediate range", but North Korea says it was intercontinental
- If proven intercontinental, would be the first
- Weapons analyst says missile could be powerful enough to reach Alaska
- Australia has condemned the launch
The Hwasong-14 missile reached an altitude of 2,802 kilometres and hit its target precisely after flying for 933km in39 minutes,
the announcement on state television said.
"The test launch was conducted at the sharpest angle possible and did not have any negative effect on neighbouring countries," the statement said.
The launch is a potential game-changing development in North Korea's push to militarily challenge the United States,
but a declaration that conflicts with earlier South Korean and US assessments that it had an intermediate range.
US, South Korean and Japanese officials said the missile was launched from an airfield in Panghyon, about 100km north-west of the North's capital, Pyongyang.
I wonder if they are any good at darts?
