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North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of US Vice President's visit to Seoul

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, following news Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile - AFP
People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, following news Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile - AFP

North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast on Sunday, ahead of planned military drills by South Korean and US forces involving an aircraft carrier and a visit to Seoul by US Vice President Kamala Harris.

South Korea's military said a single, short-range ballistic missile was fired from near the Taechon area of North Pyongyan Province just before 7am.

Japan's Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Japan estimated it reached maximum altitude at 50 kilometres (31 miles) and may have flown on an irregular trajectory. Mr Hamada said it fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone and there were no reports of problems with shipping or air traffic.

Many of the short-range missiles tested by North Korea in recent years have been designed to evade missile defences by maneuvering during flight and flying on a lower, "depressed" trajectory, experts have said.

"If you include launches of cruise missiles this is the nineteenth launch, which is an unprecedented pace. North Korea's action represent a threat to the peace and security of our country, the region and the international community and to do this as the Ukraine invasion unfolds is unforgivable," Mr Hamada said, adding that Japan had delivered a protest through North Korea's embassy in Beijing.

The US Indo-pacific Command said it was aware of the launch and consulting closely with allies, in a statement released after the launch, while reaffirming US commitment to the defence of South Korea and Japan.

"While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies, the missile launch highlights the destabilising impact of the DPRK's unlawful Weapons of Mass Destruction and ballistic missile programs."

The launch comes after the arrival of the nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in South Korea to participate in joint drills with South Korean forces, and ahead of a planned visit to Seoul next week by Ms Harris.

US Vice President Kamala Harris will visit South Korea next week - Reuters
US Vice President Kamala Harris will visit South Korea next week - Reuters

It was the first time the North carried out such a launch after firing eight short-range ballistic missiles in one day in early June, which led the US to call for more sanctions for violating UN Security Council resolutions.

North Korea rejects UN resolutions as an infringement of its sovereign right to self defence and space exploration, and has criticised previous joint drills by the US and South Korea as proof of their hostile policies.

The drills have also been criticised by Russia and China, which have called on all sides not to take steps that raise tensions in the region, and have called for an easing of sanctions.

After North Korea conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests earlier this year, including its intercontinental ballistic missiles for the first time since 2017, the United States and South Korea said they would boost joint drills and military displays of power to deter Pyongyang.

"Defense exercises are not going to prevent North Korean missile tests," said Leif-Eric Easley, an international affairs professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

But US-South Korea security cooperation helps to deter a North Korean attack and counter Pyongyang’s coercion, and the allies should not let provocations stop them from conducting military training and exchanges needed to maintain the alliance, he added.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday North Korea may also be preparing to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), citing the South's military.