North Korea fires ballistic missile

North Korea fired a ballistic missile yesterday, Seoul has said. This came a week after the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un, vowed to boost Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal and just days before the South inaugurates a new, hawkish president. Pyongyang has conducted 14 weapons tests since January – including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full-range for the first time since 2017. Last week, Mr Kim vowed to rapidly expand and improve his nuclear arsenal and warned of possible “pre-emptive” strikes. Satellite imagery indicates he may soon resume nuclear testing. North Korea fired the ballistic missile at 12.03pm local time, Seoul’s joint chiefs of staff said. The missile flew 470 kilometres and reached an altitude of 780km.