North Korea fires another missile

TOKYO — North Korea has taken another step toward achieving its stated goal of being able to send a nuclear weapon to the United States mainland, apparently firing another ballistic missile late Friday night. However, it was not immediately clear whether the missile was an intercontinental one capable of reaching the continental United States.

North Korea appeared to launch the missile just after 11 p.m. local time, South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said. South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened an emergency national security meeting.

Japanese authorities also reported detecting the launch, with the missile appearing to land within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, the public broadcaster NHK said.

The Hawaii-based U.S. Pacific Command usually confirms missile launches a short time after the South Korean announcement.

If confirmed, this would be unusual as North Korea almost al- ways launches missiles soon after dawn.

Still, a launch had been anticipated. Not only has Kim Jong Un