Japan’s coast guard first reported the launch and revealed worries the launch may be a ballistic missile. The UN bars North Korea from conducting ballistic and nuclear weapons tests, however, authorities in Japan and South Korea believe the rule has been broken.
No confirmation from the North has yet been given.
The unidentified projectile was fired off North Korea’s east coast and marks the nation’s first show of force this year.
In a statement, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said: “South Korean and US intelligence are closely analysing for further detail.”
JCS and the Japanese government have reportedly said the projectile “appears” to be a ballistic missile.
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Following the unidentified projectile launch, Japan’s government also added it is confirming the safety of aircraft and ships.
The blast marks the first projectile launch since Pyongyang said it successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile in October last year.
The submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was launched from the “8.24 Yongung” submarine, which was the same vessel used to test North Korea’s first SLBM in 2016, reports revealed.
The report said “lots of advanced control guidance technologies” had been included in the missile.
Reports claimed the new technologies included would “greatly contribute to putting the defense technology of the country on a high level and to enhancing the underwater operational capability of our navy”.