North Korea launches ‘unknown type’ ballistic missile

North Korea today launched a ballistic missile, according to South Korea’s General Staff, a week after’s leader Kim Jong Un promised to accelerate the development of Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.

The new weapons test, the 14th this year, comes as Seoul and Washington estimate that North Korea may resume nuclear weapons tests, which it announced a moratorium on in 2017.

Pyongyang already ended a five-year moratorium on intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBMs) tests in March, launching one that could theoretically hit the continental United States.

The South Korean staff said today that it had spotted the launch of a “ballistic missile from North Korea at 12:03” (local time; 06:03 Greek time) from Sunan, north of the capital, towards the East Sea, or the Sea of ​​Japan. , as Tokyo calls it.

The Japanese Coast Guard also said a “ballistic missile” had been fired.

Despite tough international sanctions, North Korea is redoubled its efforts this year to modernize its arsenal.

During a military parade on April 25, Mr. Kim promised to “strengthen and develop” the capabilities of the North Korean military, especially its nuclear capabilities, at a “faster pace.” “Our nuclear weapons, a symbol of our national strength and at the center of our military strength, need to be improved in terms of quality and range,” he added.

Today’s test follows the announcement by US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield that she would submit a draft resolution to the Security Council on further toughening sanctions against North Korea.

Twenty-four hours before the inauguration (May 10) of Yun Sok-gel, South Korea’s new Conservative president, who has said he will pursue a much tougher policy toward Pyongyang, was also recorded.

South Korea’s National Security Council condemned the launch and called on North Korea to return to the table.

The rocket covered a distance of 470 kilometers and reached an altitude of 780 kilometers, according to the general staff in Seoul.

North Korea continues to defy calls from South Korea and the United States to resume dialogue. Negotiations to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula have been deadlocked since 2019, when Kim Jong Un’s summit with then-US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, failed.

Source: AMPE

Source: Capital

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