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North Korea launched offshore ballistic missile, says the South North Korea launched offshore ballistic missile, says the South
(about 5 hours later)
North Korea has fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast, South Korea has said. North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast on Saturday, South Korea has said.
The north fired the missile to the north-east from an area off its east coast at about 6.30pm (09.30 GMT) on Saturday, the south’s office of the joint chiefs of staff said.The north fired the missile to the north-east from an area off its east coast at about 6.30pm (09.30 GMT) on Saturday, the south’s office of the joint chiefs of staff said.
The announcement comes during concerns that the isolated state might conduct a nuclear test or a missile launch ahead of a ruling party meeting in May. The announcement comes as concerns grow that the isolated state might conduct a nuclear test or a missile launch ahead of a ruling party meeting in May.
North Korea will hold a congress of its ruling Workers’ party in early May for the first time in 36 years, at which its leader, Kim Jong-un, is expected to say the country is a strong military power and a nuclear state.North Korea will hold a congress of its ruling Workers’ party in early May for the first time in 36 years, at which its leader, Kim Jong-un, is expected to say the country is a strong military power and a nuclear state.
The missile flew for about 30 km (18 miles), a South Korean defence ministry official said, adding its military was trying to determine whether the launch may have been a failure for unspecified reasons. The missile flew for about 30km (18 miles), a South Korean defence ministry official said by telephone, adding its military was trying to determine whether the launch may have been a failure for unspecified reasons.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the missile flew “for a few minutes”, citing a government source.South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the missile flew “for a few minutes”, citing a government source.
The US State Department in Washington said it was aware of reports the north had launched what appeared to be a ballistic missile. The US Strategic Command said it had detected and tracked a North Korean submarine missile launch but it did not pose a threat to North America.
“Launches using ballistic missile technology are a clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby. State Department spokesman John Kirby said launches using ballistic missile technology were “a clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions”.
It first attempted a launch of the submarine-based missile last year and was seen to be in the early stages of developing such a weapons system, which could pose a new threat to its neighbours and the United States if it is perfected. France on Saturday called on the European Union to unilaterally adopt additional sanctions against North Korea if the missile launch is confirmed.
However, follow-up test launches were believed to have fallen short of the north’s expectations as its state media footage appeared to have been edited to fake success, according experts who have seen the visuals. The EU in March expanded trade and financial sanctions against North Korea, following up on harsh new measures imposed by the UN security council.
South Korea’s military has said it is on high alert over the possibility that the isolated North could conduct its fifth nuclear test “at any time” in defiance of UN sanctions after setting off what it said was a hydrogen device in January. The north first attempted a launch of the submarine-based missile last year and was seen to be in the early stages of developing such a weapons system, which could pose a new threat to its neighbours and the US if it is perfected.
Related: North Korea's nuclear test cannot be written off as mere follyRelated: North Korea's nuclear test cannot be written off as mere folly
Satellite images show that North Korea may have resumed tunnel excavation at its main nuclear test site, which is similar to activity seen before the January test, a US North Korea monitoring website reported on Wednesday. However, follow-up test launches were believed to have fallen short of the north’s expectations as its state media footage appeared to have been edited to fake success, according to experts who have seen the visuals.
South Korea and the US, as well as experts, believe the north is working to develop a submarine-launched ballistic missile system and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) putting the mainland United States within range. South Korea’s military has said it is on high alert over the possibility that the isolated north could conduct its fifth nuclear test “at any time” in defiance of UN sanctions after setting off what it said was a hydrogen device in January.
North Korea is banned from nuclear tests and activities that use ballistic missile technology under UN sanctions dating back to 2006 and most recently adopted in March but it has pushed ahead with work to miniaturise a nuclear warhead and develop an ICBM. Satellite images show North Korea may have resumed tunnel excavation at its main nuclear test site, similar to activity seen before the January test, a US North Korea monitoring website reported on Wednesday.
A senior US official said this week that North Korea should take a lesson from Iran, which has agreed to roll back its nuclear programme in an agreement with western powers in return for lifting of major sanctions but the north has shown no sign of entering into such a pact. South Korea and the US, as well as experts, believe the north is working to develop a submarine-launched ballistic missile system and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), putting the mainland United States within range.
North Korea is banned from nuclear tests and activities that use ballistic missile technology under UN sanctions dating to 2006 and most recently adopted in March but it has pushed ahead with work to miniaturise a nuclear warhead and develop an ICBM.
A senior US official said this week that North Korea should take a lesson from Iran, which has agreed to roll back its nuclear programme in an agreement with western powers in return for the lifting of major sanctions but the north has shown no sign of entering into such a pact.
North Korea foreign minister Ri Su Yong told Associated Press in New York on Saturday that his country is ready to halt nuclear tests if the US suspends its annual military exercises with South Korea. North Korea made a similar demand in January.
Asked if the US would consider a halt, Katina Adams, a spokeswoman for the State Department’s East Asia bureau, said the exercises demonstrate the US commitment to the alliance with South Korea and enhance “combat readiness”.