Pyongyang: North Korea commenced the new year by launching one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) into the East Sea on Sunday, media reports said on Sunday.
South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from the Ryongsong area in Pyongyang at 2:50 a.m., adding the missile flew some 400 kilometers before splashing into the sea, reports Yonhap news agency.
It appears to be another response to Seouls test launch of a homegrown solid-propellant space rocket on Friday, according to North Korea observers.
Earlier in the day, the Japanese Defense Ministry said that North Korea test-fired three short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan. The missiles flew over a distance of 350 kilometers (217 miles), reaching a maximum altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles). All of the missiles landed outside of Japans exclusive economic zone, reports UNI.
The military is currently analyzing the range, altitude and speed of the missile.
