NORTH KOREA: According to South Korea's military, North Korea fired a suspected submarine-launched ballistic missile on Saturday, likely continuing a provocative streak in weapons tests that could culminate in a nuclear test in the coming weeks or months.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea claimed the missile was launched from waters near the eastern port city of Sinpo, where North Korea has a major shipyard that builds submarines, but it didn't indicate how far it flew. It was also unclear whether the launch would have featured a real submarine or a test platform submerged.

The launch was also verified by Japan's Defense Ministry, though flight data were not immediately released. The launch was reportedly North Korea's first submarine-fired ballistic system demonstration since October of last year, when it test-fired a new short-range missile from the 8.24 Yongung, the country's only known submarine capable of firing a missile, in what was the country's first underwater test launch since 2019. The launch came three days after South Korean and Japanese militaries detected the North firing a suspected ballistic missile from near Pyongyang on Wednesday, and three days before the inauguration of South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol, who has promised to be tougher on Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

North Korea's latest missile launch was likely its 15th this year, including its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017, which exhibited potential range to strike the entire United States mainland. Experts believe the North's exceptionally rapid testing activity reflects brinkmanship aimed at compelling the US to recognise the North as a nuclear power and lift debilitating sanctions.

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