North Korea Test-Fires Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile

North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast, the South Korean military said, in an apparent show of defiance against the ongoing military drill between Seoul and Washington.

    North Korea launched the missile from waters near the port city of Sinpo, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The military said the missile flew about 500 kilometers, which is an improvement compared with past launches. North Korea's missile fell into waters under Japan's air defense identification zone, it added. 

    Tensions are high on the divided peninsula as North Korea threatened on Monday to wage a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on South Korea and the United States against the allies' annual military exercise, according to (Yonhap) news agency.

    Seoul and Washington on Monday kicked off an annual two-week joint military drill involving about 75,000 troops. North Korea has long denounced the joint drill as a rehearsal for a northward invasion, a charge denied by Seoul and Washington. "North Korea's launch of the SLBM seemed to be aimed at raising military tension in response to the Seoul-Washington military drill," the JCS said, adding that the North's provocation is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. "We will sternly and strongly respond to any provocation by North Korea," the military added. 

    Wednesday's launch marked the sixth time that North Korea has tested its SLBM capabilities after its first attempt in May 2015. It also marked the third SLBM test launch this year.

Source: QNA