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NKorea claims success in submarine-launched missile test

UNITED NATIONS The United Nations Security Council will hold a closed-door meeting on Wednesday at the request of the United States and Japan to discuss North Korea’s latest missile launch, diplomats said.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Thursday that his country had achieved the “success of all successes” in launching a missile from a submarine, saying it effectively gave the country a fully equipped nuclear attack capability and put the US mainland within striking distance.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – A ballistic missile fired from a North Korean submarine on Wednesday flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon, Seoul officials said, putting all of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan, within its striking distance.

The presumed KN-11 missile was launched off the coast of the eastern city of Sinpo and landed in the Sea of Japan. “South Korea has expressed interest in the US-developed SM-3 or SM-6 ship-borne systems to provide anti-SLBM defense”.

There was criticism from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Tokyo.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said it is important the three countries continue to adhere to a unified stance against North Korea provocations, Yonhap reported.

The test-firing came as tensions heightened on the Korean peninsula after South Korea and the United States started annual war games, the military said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday’s missile breached his country’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and condemned what he called an “unforgivable, reckless act”.

A proven SLBM system would take North Korea’s nuclear strike threat to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a “second-strike” capability to retaliate in the event of an attack on its military bases.

“I think it’s meant foremost as a demonstration of sheer technical capability and a demand for status and respect”, Pollack said.

The DPRK already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including USA military bases in those countries.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry warned the North’s pursuit of weapons programs would only invite more sanctions, deepen its global isolation, and eventually speed up its collapse.

South Korea believes the North has a fleet of more than 70 limited-range submarines.

The firing of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is seen as a show of the improving technological capability of North Korea, which has conducted a series of launches in defiance of United Nations sanctions. Acquiring a fleet of submarines large and quiet enough and with a longer range would be a next step for the North, experts said.

The South Koreans did not comment on whether the test was successful.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was opposed to “any words and deeds that will cause further tension” on the Korean peninsula. North Korea on Wednesday fired a ballistic missile from a su.

“I hope to coordinate closely in order for Japan, China and South Korea to lead the efforts of the worldwide community”, he said.

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