North Korea Conducts Short-Range Ballistic Missile Test, South Korea And Japan Say

North Korea's latest short-range ballistic missile test comes amid heightened regional tensions, prompting warnings from South Korea and the United States about the consequences of any nuclear attack by Pyongyang.

File Photo of North Korean autocrat Kim Jong Un

Source : KCNA

North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday, according to Seoul's military. This test firing comes amid rising tensions in the region as South Korea and the United States warned that any nuclear attack would lead to the end of Pyongyang's regime. "Our military detected a short-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea at around 22:38 (1338 GMT) on Sunday," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, as per news agency AFP.

The missile covered approximately 570 kilometres (354 miles) before landing in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo closely shared information regarding North Korea's ballistic missile, according to the statement.

Japan's defence ministry confirmed that North Korea launched "what appears to be a ballistic missile," and its coastguard reported that it seemed to have already fallen.

The missile test occurred as Seoul and Washington issued a stern warning to Pyongyang, stating that any nuclear attack on the United States and South Korea would lead to the end of the North Korean regime. The Nuclear Consultative Group, in its second session held in Washington on Friday, discussed nuclear deterrence in the event of a conflict with North Korea, as per AFP's report.

North Korea On South Korea, Japan, US Nuclear Operation Drill

A spokesperson for North Korea's defence ministry condemned the allies' plans to expand a key annual joint military drill next year, including a nuclear operation drill. The spokesperson stated, "This is an open declaration on nuclear confrontation to make the use of nuclear weapons against the DPRK a fait accompli," using the official acronym for North Korea.

The statement further warned of "a preemptive and deadly counteraction" if hostile forces attempted to use armed forces against North Korea, the report mentioned.

The latest missile launch coincides with the death anniversary of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, who died on December 17, 2011.

North Korea, declaring itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year, has consistently refused to abandon its nuclear program, calling it essential for its survival. In the previous month, Pyongyang claimed success in placing a military spy satellite into orbit, asserting that it was already providing images of major US and South Korean military sites.

The UN Security Council has issued multiple resolutions calling on North Korea to cease its nuclear and ballistic missile programs since its first nuclear test in 2006.

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