Pyongyang fires ballistic missile: Seoul
North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Sunday into waters off its east coast, South Korean and Japanese officials said. South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff said the launch occurred on Sunday morning but gave no further details. The Japanese Prime Minister’s Office also confirmed the launch. Japan's Coast Guard said it was informed by the Defence Ministry that North Korea’s suspected missile landed in waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, but did not say how close it was from the Japanese coast. Japan’s NHK national television quoted unnamed government sources saying the missile landed outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. Sunday's launch came three days after North Korea said it tested a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor” for a new strategic weapon, a development that could allow it to possess a more mobile, harder-to-detect arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the US mainland. In recent months, North Korea has test-fired a barrage of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles including last month’s launch of its developmental, longest-range liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM designed to carry multiple warheads. Some experts say North Korea would eventually use an expanded arsenal to seek sanctions relief and other concessions from the United States.  Washington and Seoul have expanded their regular military drills and pushed to further bolster their combined defence capability in the face of North Korea’s advancing nuclear programme. (AP)