North Korea fires ballistic missile from submarine

Second launch in 3 days comes after US warns Pyongyang may be preparing for nuclear test

SEOUL • North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) yesterday, Seoul said, its second missile launch in three days, after the United States warned that Pyongyang could be preparing for a nuclear test.

Pyongyang has dramatically ramped up its sanctions-busting missile launches this year, conducting 15 weapons tests since January including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017.

The latest launch comes just days before South Korea swears in a new president, Mr Yoon Sukyeol, who has vowed to get tough on Pyongyang and bolster the US security alliance.

Satellite imagery indicates that North Korea may also be preparing to resume nuclear testing, with the US State Department on Friday warning that a test could come “as early as this month”.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement: “Our military detected around 14:07 (0507 GMT) a short-range ballistic missile presumed to be an SLBM fired from waters off Sinpo, South Hamgyong.”

Sinpo is a major naval shipyard in North Korea and satellite photos have in the past shown submarines at the facility.