North Korea Launches Another Missile Into Waters Between South Korea And Japan, Suspected Of Ballistic Type

JAKARTA - North Korea has again launched a missile it suspects to be ballistic, Japan's defense ministry said on Wednesday, less than a week after the nuclear-armed nation fired what it claimed was a "hypersonic" weapon.

Seoul also confirmed the launch, saying it was an unidentified projectile and had been fired into the waters between South Korea and Japan, citing The Japan Times Jan, 11.

The missile launch came as six countries, including the United States and Japan, urged North Korea to stop its "destabilizing actions" in a joint statement at the United Nations.

The six call on Pyongyang to refrain from further destabilizing actions and engage in meaningful dialogue towards our common goal of complete denuclearization.

"This action increases the risk of miscalculation and escalation and poses a significant threat to regional stability," US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield was quoted as saying, reading out a joint statement ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting last week.

"Each missile launch serves not only to advance the DPRK's own capabilities but to expand the range of weapons available for export to clients and illegal weapons dealers around the world," he added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic Party People's Republic of Korea.

North Korea last week said it had successfully tested a new hypersonic missile, potentially giving the isolated nation another weapon that could evade missile defenses.

The test, the second apparent launch of a hypersonic weapon in just three months, is expected to provide people in Japan with more ammunition that pushes the country to gain the capability to attack enemy bases.

In recent months, North Korea has tested a variety of new, increasingly powerful weapons systems alongside its newest submarine ballistic missile. These include long-range cruise missiles believed to be capable of delivering nuclear bombs to Japan, as well as rail-launched weapons and what North Korea says, are hypersonic glide vehicles. All of them are believed to represent progress in Pyongyang's efforts to defeat missile defenses.

To note, the pace of North Korea's weapons testing has sparked concern in Tokyo, with top officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, publicly suggesting Japan increase strike capabilities.