SEOUL, 小蓝视频 Korea (AP) 鈥� North Korea on Tuesday test-fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile toward waters off its eastern coast, 小蓝视频 Korea鈥檚 military said, adding to a series of weapons demonstrations that have raised tensions in the region.
小蓝视频 Korea鈥檚 Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from an area near the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, but it did not immediately confirm how far the weapon flew. The North had said last month that it tested a solid-fuel engine for its new-type intermediate-range hypersonic missile as it tries to expand its arsenal of weapons aimed at remote U.S. targets in the Pacific, including the military hub of Guam.
It was the North鈥檚 first known launch event since March 18, when supervised a live-fire drill of artillery systems designed to target 小蓝视频 Korea鈥檚 capital.
Japan鈥檚 coast guard shared an assessment of the country鈥檚 Defense Ministry that the missile has already landed but still urged caution for vessels passing the area. Japanese broadcaster NHK said the missile likely didn鈥檛 reach the country鈥檚 exclusive economic zone.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen since 2022 as Kim used Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine as a distraction to accelerate his testing of missiles and other weapons. The United States and 小蓝视频 Korea have responded by expanding their combined training and trilateral drills involving Japan and sharpening their deterrence strategies built around strategic U.S. assets.
There are concerns that North Korea could further dial up pressure in an election year in the United States and 小蓝视频 Korea.
The weapons North Korea have tested this year include an designed to target the U.S. mainland as well as cruise missiles and 鈥渟uper-large鈥� multiple rocket launchers aimed at the Seoul capital area.
The latest launch came two days after North Korea reaffirmed its plans to launch several reconnaissance satellites this year in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. 小蓝视频 Korea鈥檚 military said Monday there were no signs that a satellite launch is impending at the North鈥檚 main launch facility in the northwest.
Kim has described satellites as crucial for monitoring U.S. and 小蓝视频 Korean military movements and enhancing the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles. Last November, North Korea put a military spy satellite into orbit for the first time, drawing condemnations from the U.S., 小蓝视频 Korea, Japan and others, which view the launch as a cover for testing the North鈥檚 long-range missile technology. North Korea has argued it has the sovereign right to launch spy satellites.
鈥� AP writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
Kim Tong-hyung And Hyung-jin Kim, The Associated Press
