North Korea on Saturday fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile from a submarine off its northeast coast, South Korean defense officials said, Pyongyang’s latest effort to expand its military might in the face of pressure by its neighbors and Washington.
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While the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile only remained airborne for 30 kilometers (18.6 miles), according to the Yonhap News Agency, they also said they were “keeping close tabs on the North Korean military while maintaining [their] readiness posture”.
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Local South Korean television network SBS, citing military officials, said that the test could happen as early as Saturday.
Officials said the missile was successfully ejected out of a two-thousand ton Sinpo-class submarine before it was properly ignited outside of water.
US and South Korean military also claim to have evidence that North Korea’s army was blocking roads in Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, UPI reports, where a number of military facilities are believed to be located, including the Hwadae-ri atomic weapons training facility.
In November, Seoul’s main spy agency told lawmakers another test-launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine ended in failure.
Top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un gave orders on March 15 to test a nuclear warhead and ballistic rockets capable of carrying the warhead “in a short time” to enhance credibility of its nuclear strikes.
Nonetheless, this new demonstration of Pyongyang’s military might comes after the Asian country carried out its fourth nuclear test in January and a new trial of long-range missiles the following month, which led bo the imposition of new and tougher sanctions by the United Nations Security Council.
ABC News noted the importance of the test to the North, which has been steadfastly improving both its missile technology and its nuclear weapons program.
Some experts, however, think the North has fired missiles from submerged platforms, but not submarines.
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It came amid concerns that it might conduct a nuclear test or a missile launch ahead of a key ruling party meeting.
