North Korea fired a ballistic missile into its eastern waters on Wednesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to strengthen his nuclear arsenal “as quickly as possible” and threatened to use them against rivals.
The launch, the North’s 14th round of gunfire, also came six days before South Korea’s new conservative president takes office for a single five-year term.
The Joint Committee of the Chiefs of Staff of South Korea said in a statement that the missile was fired from the region of the northern capital and flew to the waters off its east coast. It says the South Korean military is monitoring possible additional launches of weapons from North Korea.
Japan’s defense ministry said North Korea had launched a possible ballistic missile without providing further details. The Japanese Coast Guard has called on ships traveling off the coast of Japan to stay away from any possible fragments.
Unusually fast pace when testing weapons
North Korea’s unusually fast pace of arms tests this year underscores its dual goal of improving its missile programs and putting pressure on Washington over the deepening freeze on nuclear talks, experts say.
There are also signs that the North is preparing for a nuclear test at its remote northeastern test facility. If done, the test explosion of an atomic bomb from North Korea will be the seventh of its kind and the first of 2017.
Last week, Kim Jong Un unveiled his most powerful nuclear-capable missiles aimed at both the United States and its allies during a massive military parade in the capital, Pyongyang. Speaking at the parade, Kim said he would develop his arsenal “as fast as possible” and warned that the North would use its nuclear weapons preventively if its national interests were threatened.
Kim’s edge appears to be aimed at increasing his weapons arsenal and putting more pressure on Washington and Seoul to accept his country as a nuclear power and ease extensive international sanctions against it, observers say.
Wednesday’s launch comes ahead of the inauguration of South Korean President-elect Yun Suk Yel on May 10, who has vowed to boost Seoul’s missile capabilities and strengthen its military alliance with Washington to better deal with growing nuclear threats. North Korea.
North Korea has a history of rising hostilities with arms tests as Seoul and Washington form new governments in an apparent attempt to increase their influence in future talks.
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