North Korea launches ballistic missile towards sea: South Korean military

Japan’s government has also confirmed the launch of what is suspected to be a ballistic missile.

North Korea has launched a ballistic missile towards the sea off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff report.

The Japanese government also confirmed on Tuesday morning that North Korea had fired what was suspected to be a ballistic missile.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) initially said it detected the launch and provided few other details, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reports.

The launch follows North Korea’s test-firing last week of a huge new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It also comes amid heightened tensions between North Korea and the West and hours before voting starts in the US presidential election.

North Korean state news reported the test-launching of a Hwasong-19 ICBM last week, describing the new missile as “the world’s strongest ICBM”.

The latest test launches come as South Korean officials warned that North Korea would likely dial up military displays around the US election to get the attention of Washington.

South Korea’s military intelligence agency also said last week that North Korea had likely completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test.

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Al Jazeera and news agencies