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North Korea fires unidentified projectile: South’s military

north korea submarine-launched missile
Source: Pixabay

North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into the sea, the South’s military said on Wednesday, the first such test by Pyongyang in the New Year.

The projectile was fired into the sea east of the peninsula, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, without immediately giving further details.

In 2021, nuclear-armed North Korea said it successfully tested a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile; a long-range cruise missile; a train-launched weapon; and what it described as a hypersonic warhead.

The latest test comes as North Korea has kept mum about US appeals for talks with Pyongyang.

At a key meeting of the North’s ruling party last week, leader Kim Jong Un — who has overseen rapid progress in its military technology, at the cost of international sanctions — vowed to continue building up its military capabilities, without mentioning the United States.

The country has stayed away from talks on its nuclear programme since the collapse in 2019 of the dialogue between Kim and then US president Donald Trump.

Under Trump’s successor Joe Biden, the United States has repeatedly declared its willingness to meet North Korean representatives, while saying it will seek denuclearization.

But Pyongyang has so far dismissed the offer, accusing Washington of pursuing “hostile” policies.

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AFP

Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a French international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835 as Havas, it is the world's oldest news agency.







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