North Korea fires ballistic missile on Sunday, threatens to launch more

SEOUL — North Korea Sunday test-fired a ballistic missile which traveled some 500 km, just a week after a previous launch sparked international condemnation and threats of tougher UN sanctions.

South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-In called a National Security Council meeting in response to the latest launch, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it could not yet identify the type of missile fired from Pukchang in South Pyongan province but it traveled about 500 km ( 311 miles). There was no further information given about the nature of the projectile.

Last week Pyongyang launched an intermediate-range missile named the Hwasong-12 its longest-range missile yet, according to analysts. It was its 10th launch this year, after dozens in 2016, as it accelerates efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States — something President Donald Trump has vowed “won’t happen.”

The North says it needs missiles and nuclear weapons to deter any attack by the United States. State newspaper Minju Joson threatened more launches.

“If the US persists in confrontation with the DPRK (North Korea), the latter will show how the crime- woven history of the US is put to an end,” it said. —