North Korea has launched an “unidentified projectile” that is believed to be a ballistic missile, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff has said.
The exact nature of the projectile was not immediately clear, South Korean military officials told Reuters and Yonhap by telephone.
North Korea’s alleged ballistic missile test is the country’s first since South Korea elected Moon Jae-in as their new president. Saturday’s launch follows two previous failed attempts last month.
The reported launch comes amid rising tensions in the region and a US military buildup in response to the North Korean nuclear and ballistic threat. In an attempt to deter Pyongyang from more nuclear and missile tests, the US has sent a group of American warships, led by an aircraft carrier, to the region while conducting war games with their regional allies. Last month, Washington also positioned elements of the THAAD anti-missile system on the Peninsula.
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