N Korea launches ballistic missile days after firing Hwasong-17

• Amid North’s file testing, South Korea-US tempo up joint drills.
• North Korea views all such workout routines as rehearsals for invasion.
• Final yr, North declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear energy.

SEOUL: North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Sunday, Yonhap information company reported, the most recent launch to return as South Korea and the USA stage main army drills.

“North Korea fires ballistic missile in direction of the East Sea,” Yonhap reported, citing Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Employees and referring to the physique of water often known as the Sea of Japan.

After a record-breaking yr of weapons assessments and rising nuclear threats from Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington have ramped up safety cooperation, and on March 13 kicked off their largest joint army drills in 5 years.

Generally known as Freedom Defend, the drills run for 10 days.

North Korea views all such workout routines as rehearsals for invasion and has repeatedly warned it could take “overwhelming” motion in response.

Sunday’s launch additionally comes simply days after Pyongyang test-fired its largest and strongest missile, a Hwasong-17 — its second Inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) take a look at this yr.

The North’s state media described the ICBM launch as a response to the continuing, “frantic” US-South Korea drills.

Simply hours after the ICBM was fired Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Japan to thaw long-frozen ties and enhance cooperation within the face of an more and more aggressive Pyongyang.

Final yr, North Korea declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear energy, and chief Kim Jong Un just lately referred to as for an “exponential” enhance in weapons manufacturing, together with tactical nukes.