South Korea: North Korea test-fired missile from submarine

South Korea's military says North Korea has flight-tested a ballistic missile that was likely fired from a submarine, continuing a provocative streak in weapons demonstrations that may culminate with a nuclear test in the coming weeks or months

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea flight-tested a ballistic missile that was likely fired from a submarine on Saturday, South Korea’s military said, continuing a provocative streak in weapons demonstrations that may culminate with a nuclear test in the coming weeks or months.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch occurred from waters near the eastern port city of Sinpo, where North Korea has a major shipyard building submarines. It said the short-range missile flew 600 kilometers (372 miles) at a maximum altitude of 60 kilometers (37 miles) but it didn’t immediately provide details about the submarine that would have been involved in the launch.

South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials were analyzing the launch, the military said, describing it as a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a “serious threatening act that harms international peace and stability.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in response to the missile firing ordered officials to prepare for all “unforeseeable situations” and secure the safety of aircraft and ships. There were no immediate reports of damage. South Korea’s national security director Suh Hoon and other senior officials during an emergency National Security Council meeting denounced the launch and urged North Korea to return to long-stalled talks aimed at defusing the nuclear standoff, Seoul’s presidential office said.