N. Korea Test-fires Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile

Local Editor

North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, the South Korean military announced, according to the local Yonhap news agency. The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile test "was unsuccessful" and failed in its initial stage.

The missile was fired from waters southeast of the coastal port city of Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province, at about 11:30 am Seoul time, Yonhap reported citing South's Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS].

"The SLBM was ejected from the submarine normally, but is estimated the initial flight was unsuccessful," the JCS said in a brief press release. "Our military strongly denounces such provocative acts by North Korea."

For its part, Japan "strongly condemned" Pyongyang's recent launch, calling it a "clear challenge to UN Security Council resolutions."

In late April, the North already boasted about a submarine-launched ballistic missile test, calling the launch a "great success" that provided "one more means for powerful nuclear attack".

However, Seoul labeled the launch as unsuccessful, saying that the sea-based missile broke into several pieces mid-flight after having flown some 30 kilometers.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team