North Korea Fires Missile From Submarine
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Regional tensions rose further Tuesday after North Korea confirmed it fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast on Tuesday.
The launch forced Japan’s new prime minister off the campaign trail and overshadowed the opening of a major arms fair in Seoul, South Korea’s capital.
North Korea’s KCNA news agency said the missile had “lots of advanced control guidance technologies” and was fired from the same vessel as in a 2016 test.
Pictures showed the black-and-white missile emerging from the waters trailing a column of fire and smoke and a surfacing submarine.
State-controlled North Korean media did not mention leader Kim Jong-un, suggesting he did not attend the test.
The launch came after special envoys gathered to discuss how to deal with Pyongyang’s growing nuclear capabilities.
In reflecting on international concern, diplomats said that the United Nations security council would hold an emergency closed-door meeting on Wednesday on North Korea.
The country, known for its human rights abuses, including locking up thousands of Christians in harsh labor camps, has come under sanctions over its nuclear program.
A proven submarine-based missile capability would take the North’s arsenal to a new level, according to experts.
It allows North Korean deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a second-strike capability in case of an attack on its military bases.
Tuesday’s test, carried out near Sinpo, the site of a significant naval dockyard, reportedly came as both Koreas built up their weapons capabilities.
Diplomats fear it could become an arms race on the peninsula, with Washington-Pyongyang dialogue at a standstill following the election of Joe Biden as U.S. President.
Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo have condemned the launch, all three describing it as a ballistic missile with potentially nuclear capabilities.
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