North Korea fires ballistic missile as world leaders condemn Kim Jong un...

North Korea fires ballistic missile as world leaders condemn Kim Jong un’s nuclear ambitions



NORTH Korea has fired off what appears to be a ballistic missile, Yonhap news agency reported Monday, citing the South’s military, as tensions flare over its nuclear ambitions.

The unidentified missile was fired from near the North Korean coastal city of Wonsan, Seoul’s joint chief of staff said.

News of the launch comes as US President Donald Trump seeks tougher sanctions against the isolated nuclear-armed regimen, which is on a quest to develop a missile capable of reaching the continental United States.

South Korea’s new president, Moon Jae-In, has ordered a meeting of the national security council to assess the launch, Yonhap reported.



NORTH KOREA STEPS UP AGGRESSION

It comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised the test of a new anti-aircraft weapon system and has ordered its mass production and deployment throughout the country.



The state’s news agency KCNA did not report the exact nature of the weapon or the time of the test but said it was organised by the Academy of National Defence Science.

The secretive defence agency is also believed to be developing missiles and nuclear weapons.



The North has been pushing to develop a wide range of weapon systems since early last year at an unprecedented pace including a long-range missile capable of striking the mainland US.

Under its leader’s direction, the rogue state has in recent weeks tested its intermediate-range ballistic missile, making some technical advances.



The reclusive state rejects UN and unilateral sanctions by other states against its weapons program as an infringement of its right to self defence and says the program is necessary to counter US aggression.

It last conducted a ballistic missile test a week ago.



The US denies any intention to attack the North.

“Kim Jong Un ... watched the test of a new type of anti-aircraft guided weapon system organised by the Academy of National Defence Science,” KCNA said on Sunday.

“This weapon system, whose operation capability has been thoroughly verified, should be mass-produced to deploy all over the country ... so as to completely spoil the enemy’s wild dream to command the air, boasting of air supremacy and weapon almighty,” it said.