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N Korea fires ballistic missile towards sea: S Korea

By AAP Newswire

Oct 31, 2024

North Korea launching a intercontinental ballistic missile — North Korea has launched a ballistic missile, South Korea says -AP

North Korea has fired a ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says.

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Japan's Coast Guard also said the North had fired what could be a ballistic missile.

Thursday's reported launch happened a day after South Korea's military intelligence agency told lawmakers that North Korea has likely completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test and was close to test-firing a long-range missile capable of reaching the United States.

Since 2022, North Korea has sharply increased the pace of its weapons tests to expand its arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles targeting South Korea and the United States.

The launch also comes amid concerns about North Korea's reported troop dispatch to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday that North Korean troops wearing Russian uniforms and carrying Russian equipment are moving toward Ukraine, in what he called a dangerous and destabilising development.

South Korea said North Korea has sent more than 11,000 troops to Russia and that more than 3000 of them have been moved close to battlefields in Western Russia.

with AP

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press