N Korea fires missile as South’s new president readies for office
NORTH Korea fired a ballistic missile from its capital, Pyongyang, on Wednesday, days before South Korea’s new president is due to take office.
It flew 470 kilometres towards the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, at an altitude of up to 780 kilometres, the South Korean joint chiefs of staff said.
It was initially unclear exactly what type of missile was involved.
The ranges of short-range missiles are below 800 kilometres. South Korea’s defence minister-designate Lee Jong Sup told deputies in Seoul that he suspected a longer-range missile might have been tested, the onhap news agency reported.
South Korea and Japan condemned the provocation by their internationally isolated neighbour. North Korea has already conducted more than a dozen weapons tests this year.
South Korea’s military said it was prepared for possible further missile launches by its neighbour.
North Korea has repeatedly tested missiles this year, including a suspected intercontinental missile (ICBM) in late March, in defiance of UN resolutions that ban the testing of nuclear-capable missiles of any range.
This latest test came a day after US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced she would submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council for a vote this month to strengthen sanctions against North Korea. However, it was not clear if veto-wielding members China and Russia were on board.
The US draft is primarily in response to North Korea’s test of an intercontinental ballistic missile on March 24.
Existing UN resolutions prohibit the country from testing ICBMs and other ballistic missiles of any range. These are generally surface-to-surface missiles that can carry one or more nuclear warheads, depending on their design.
North Korea has conducted several missile tests this year and, at a recent military parade, ruler Kim Jong Un said he intended to accelerate the expansion of the country’s nuclear forces.
South Korean commentators did not rule out that the latest test could be a warning signal to newly elected South Korean president oon Suk
eol. oon, who had sharply criticized the current government’s policy of rapprochement with Pyongyang, takes office on Tuesday.
oon’s transition team condemned the test as a “serious provocation” that threatened peace in the region. South Korea’s National Security Council had earlier accused North Korea of again violating UN resolutions.
N Korea has already conducted more than a dozen weapons tests this year