North Korea has fired a missile which landed in the Sea of Japan 30 minutes after being launched.
ADVERTISEMENTOn Sunday 14th May at 5.27am local time, North Korea fired a ballistic missile. It flew 700 km in 30 minutes at an altitude of around 2000km before coming down in the sea of Japan.
The missile was launched in the Kusong region, north-west of the capital, Pyongyang according to Yonhap News Agency.
“The type of missile is being assessed and the flight was not consistent with an intercontinental ballistic missile,” a U.S. Pacific Command spokesperson said.
Possible trajectories if fired from Kusong easterly or n-easterly. It cleared the landmass but probably not far enough to be in Japan's EEZ. pic.twitter.com/aGaOjCx1Pi
— Noon in Korea (@NoonInKorea) May 13, 2017
North Korean ballistic missile traveled 435 miles according to
YonhapNews</a>, much farther than previous tests in past months</p>— Lucas Tomlinson (LucasFoxNews) May 13, 2017
Japan and South Korea are growing increasingly concerned by the North’s frequent missile tests. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters:
“Once again North Korea has launched a ballistic missile despite strong warnings from the international community, this is unacceptable. We strongly protest.”
(URGENT) Moon says North missile launch is violation of U.N. resolutions https://t.co/9JuzWlQTyL
— Yonhap News Agency (@YonhapNews) May 14, 2017
Sunday’s launch came two weeks after the North’s 4th unsuccessful test in a row. The country is believed to be continuing efforts to mount miniaturised nuclear warheads onto long-range missiles capable of striking the US mainland.
Less than twenty-four hours before the latest launch, a senior North Korean diplomat suggested dialogue with the US would be possible “under the right conditions”.