North Korea launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile on Saturday, Seoul reported, the country’s second missile launch in three days after the US warned Pyongyang was planning a nuclear test.
North Korea has drastically increased its sanctions-busting missile launches this year, undertaking 15 weapons tests, including the first full-range launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017.
The event takes place two days before South Korea’s new president, Yoon Suk-yeol, takes office.
North Korea may be ready to resume nuclear testing, according to satellite images, and the US State Department warned on Friday that a test could happen “as soon as this month.”
“A short-range ballistic missile, suspected to be an SLBM, was detected by our military about 14:07 (0507 GMT) from seas near Sinpo, South Hamgyong,” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
Sinpo is a significant naval shipyard in North Korea, and satellite images have previously revealed submarines there.
North Korea has launched an object “likely to be a ballistic missile,” according to Japan’s coast guard, which cited intelligence from the country’s defence ministry.
Atomic test
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to strengthen his nuclear capabilities “at the fastest feasible speed” and warned of possible “pre-emptive” attacks while witnessing a massive military display last week.
Pyongyang was “preparing its Punggye-ri test site and might be ready to test there as early as this month,” according to a fresh US assessment issued on Friday by State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter.
“This evaluation is consistent with previous public pronouncements by the DPRK,” she continued.
US President Joe Biden will visit Japan and South Korea later this month, where Pyongyang is anticipated to be a major topic of discussion.
A North Korean test may coincide with Biden’s visit or Yoon’s inauguration on May 10, when he has promised to be tougher on Pyongyang.
“Rather of accepting calls to discussion, the Kim dictatorship looks to be preparing a tactical nuclear bomb test,” said Ewha University professor Leif-Eric Easley.
North Korea conducted six nuclear tests before engaging in exceptionally high-profile diplomacy with the US, with former President Donald Trump meeting with North Korean leader Kim four times.
“A seventh nuclear test would be the first since September 2017,” according to Easley, “raising the risks of mistake and miscommunication between the Kim government and the next Yoon administration.”
