In A Resumption Of Testing, North Korea Launches A Ballistic Missile Into The Sea

In a resumption of testing, North Korea launches a ballistic missile into the sea.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Sunday, according to Seoul, restarting a weapons-testing frenzy after a month of relative calm during the Beijing Winter Olympics and while the world's attention is focused on Ukraine.

Pyongyang has launched eight missiles this year, including a test-firing of its most powerful missile since high-profile talks between Kim Jong Un and then-US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2017. Diplomacy has been in decline since then.

Despite harsh international sanctions, Pyongyang has increased its military spending and threatened to end a self-imposed embargo on firing long-range and nuclear weapons last month.

Pyongyang was generally expected to try to profit from the US's diversion over Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, according to analysts.

The South Korean military says it detected a ballistic missile fired from Pyongyang toward the Sea of Japan around 07:52 local time (2252 GMT Saturday).

"The latest ballistic missile has a range of roughly 300 kilometers and a height of around 620 kilometers," it said, adding that "details are being closely examined by South Korean and US intelligence." The launch has also been confirmed by Japan.

The presidential Blue House in South Korea voiced "deep sorrow and profound sadness," as well as criticism of the timing, which came "at a time when the world is making attempts to resolve the Ukraine war."

Pyongyang is embracing the opportunity," Shin Beom-chul, a researcher at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, told AFP. "With the US focus shifting to Europe over the Ukraine issue and the UN Security Council unable to operate, Pyongyang is seizing the opportunity."

He added that North Korea sees this as an ideal time to "continue its development of required weapons and build its nuclear arsenal" in order to be recognized as a nuclear power.

The recent pause in testing during the Beijing Winter Olympics was interpreted as a show of respect for China, a crucial diplomatic partner and economic backer.