North Korea ‘has fired ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan’
The Guardian••world
Key Points:
- North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile toward the East Sea, according to South Korea’s military and Japan’s defense ministry.
- Leader Kim Jong-un has called for more than doubling the production of tactical guided weapons during recent visits to munitions factories.
- Kim has also overseen missile tests and inspected a nuclear-powered submarine ahead of the Ninth Party Congress, which will set major policy goals.
- North Korea has intensified missile testing recently, aiming to enhance precision strike capabilities and challenge the US and South Korea, while potentially preparing weapons for export to Russia.
- The missile test follows heightened tensions after the US approved South Korea’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine.
