Talks With South Korea And America Stalled, North Korea Launches A Missile Into The High Seas

Missiles from North Korea (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - North Korea launched another missile into the sea off the country's east coast on Sunday, January 30. This is the seventh ballistic missile test.

The Japanese government suspected North Korea had launched a "ballistic missile," while South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the launch of an unidentified projectile, without elaborating.

In a speech ahead of the New Year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening the military with cutting-edge technology as talks with South Korea and the United States stalled.

Since then, North Korea has carried out a series of launches featuring different types of weapons, launch locations, and increasing sophistication of weapons.

From hypersonic and long-range cruise missiles to missiles launched from trains and airports, the tests highlight North Korea's rapidly expanding and advancing arsenal amid stalled denuclearization talks.

North Korea has not tested a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile or nuclear weapon since 2017. However, Kim Jong Un said he would retest the intercontinental ballistic missile in January 2022.

The latest launches included the test of two short-range ballistic missiles and their warheads on Thursday, and an update to the long-range cruise missile system tested on Tuesday.

North Korea has argued that the missile launch was a sovereign right of self-defense and said the launch was not aimed at any particular country.