Existing UN sanctions ban North Korea from the use of any ballistic missile test, although short-range launches tend to go unpunished.
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Two weeks ago, the Security Council imposed its toughest sanctions on North Korea to date after Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test and fired a rocket that was widely seen as a disguised ballistic missile test. A Rodong missile has a maximum range of 1,200 kilometers, covering all of South Korea and much of Japan.
A senior United States defence official said the missile appeared to be a Rodong type fired from a road-mobile launcher.
Council members “strongly condemned and expressed grave concern at the ballistic missile launches” and declared that North Korea “shall refrain from further actions in violation” of United Nations resolutions.
Analysts say that the North is expected to continue threats and provocations as Kim tries to assert his leadership in the lead-up to a key Workers’ Party Congress in May.
On Tuesday, North Korea’s state media said Kim had ordered tests soon of a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying warheads.
The missile, fired around 5:55 a.m., is believed to be a Rodong missile, the agency reported.
Last time that North Korea launched a similar projectile was in March 2014.
The North has also reacted angrily to annual joint military drills by US and South Korean troops that began on March 7, calling the exercises “nuclear war moves” and threatening to wipe out its enemies. However, there are questions as none of North Korea’s possible candidates for an intercontinental ballistic missile have been tested “end-to-end”, from launch through re-entry and warhead delivery, to show they actually work. The UN slapped the country with sanctions each time it conducted nuclear tests and long-range rocket launches, but usually responded to ballistic launches with statements criticising them.
“North Korea’s scientists and technicians are overly exposing key secrets of their nuclear and missile technology”, a government source said.
“The United States remains steadfast in its commitments to the defense of its allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan”.
The unilateral isolation sanctions against North Korea was placed by US President Barack Obama on Wednesday after a series of deliberations and meetings with allied countries.
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“North Korea is highly likely to bring inter-Korean tensions to a crisis-like level through further hardcore provocations”, a military official said, adding that the military is keeping close tabs on the situation, according to Yonhap News.
