N.Korea Fires Missile from Submarine

North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine on Saturday that flew hundreds of kilometers and landed in the sea.

The launch came three days after the failed test of an intercontinental ballistic missile as the regime ramps up provocations with the approaching inauguration of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The North fired the short-range ballistic missile from waters off Sinpo in South Hamgyong Province into the East Sea around 2:07 p.m., the Joint Chiefs of Staff here said. It flew about 600 km and reached an altitude of some 60 km.

The projectile is thought to be an improved version of the KN-23 Iskander missile and seems to be capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads.

Over the past four months the North has fired more than 20 missiles on 15 occasions or nearly once a week. Most seem to be aimed at South Korea.

Military and intelligence authorities believe that the North now wants to prove that it is capable of developing tactical nuclear warheads by conducting another nuclear test.

Washington believes that the North will conduct a nuclear test soon. North Korea is "preparing its Punggye-ri test site and could be ready to test there as early as this month, which would be its seventh test," said State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter last Friday.