SULAIMANI (ESTA) — North Korea fired a missile towards the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s military.
The missile was launched from the central north province of Jagang at around 6:40 a.m. (2140 GMT), South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff said, according to Reuters.
Japan’s defense ministry said it appeared to be a ballistic missile.
The latest test underscored the steady development of North Korea’s weapons systems, raising the stakes for stalled talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear and ballistic missile arsenals in return for U.S. sanctions relief.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the launch highlighted “the destabilizing impact” of the North’s illicit weapons programs, while the State Department also condemned the test.
South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in ordered aides to conduct a detailed analysis of the North’s recent moves.
“We regret that the missile was fired at a time when it was very important to stabilize the situation of the Korean peninsula,” defense ministry spokesman Boo Seung-chan told a briefing, according to Reuters.
