North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile towards its eastern sea on Saturday, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, in its second launch this week.
South Korea's military said the North launched what was believed to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) into the sea off its east coast at around 0507 GMT from the area around the port city of Sinpo, where Pyongyang keeps submarines as well as equipment for test-firing such missiles.
The launch continues North Korea's recent streak of weapon demonstrations amid signs it is preparing for a nuclear test in the coming weeks or months.
Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said the North's recent development in nuclear missile-related technology and repeated launches of ballistic missiles threatened the region and the international community.
"This is absolutely unacceptable," he told reporters.
Japan will continue to "strengthen defence capabilities drastically" to protect citizens from such threats, he said.
South Korea and Japan's militaries detected the North firing a suspected ballistic missile from near its capital, Pyongyang, on Wednesday.
The latest launch was probably North Korea’s 15th round of missile firings this year, including its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017 that demonstrated potential range to reach the entirety of the United States.
It came three days before the inauguration of South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk Yeol, who has vowed to take a tougher approach over the North’s nuclear ambitions.
Experts say the unusually fast pace in testing activity underscores a brinkmanship aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power and remove crippling sanctions. There are also signs Pyongyang is restoring tunnels at a nuclear testing ground in possible preparation for another detonation. It conducted its sixth and last nuclear test at the site in September 2017.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has punctuated his missile tests with statements warning the North could proactively use its nuclear weapons if threatened or provoked, which experts say possibly portends an escalatory nuclear doctrine that would create greater concerns for South Korea and Japan.
The South Korean and Japanese militaries said the North Korean missile fired on Wednesday travelled about 500 kilometres at a maximum altitude of 800km. North Korea's state media have yet to comment on the test.
With reporting from agencies.
North Korea celebrates 90th anniversary of military — in pictures
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sole survivors
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PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
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Teams
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Tearful appearance
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Ronaldo's record at Man Utd
Seasons 2003/04 - 2008/09
Appearances 230
Goals 115
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
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Rating: 2.5/5
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
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