North Korea has fired a long-range, nuclear-capable missile toward the sea, according to the South Korean military. The General Staff in Seoul said the launch of the suspected intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was recorded early in the morning (local time). The missile flew toward the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan. It was initially unclear how far the rocket flew.
According to South Korea, North Korea only tested a short-range missile late in the evening. UN resolutions prohibit the self-proclaimed nuclear power from launching or even testing ballistic missiles of any range. Depending on the design, these rockets can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead.
The US and its partner countries, South Korea, Japan and Australia, recently imposed new sanctions on North Korea over the launch of a reconnaissance satellite in November. They accused Pyongyang of using technologies directly related to its intercontinental ballistic missile program. North Korea's development of ICBMs, whose range exceeds 5,500 kilometers, mainly targets US nuclear power.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have increased significantly. After an unprecedented series of missile tests last year, North Korea has resumed testing missiles, including ICBMs and guided missiles, several times this year.