North Korea fires missile as it prepares to hold talks with US

As per reports, North Korea has fired a ballistic missile from underwater on October 2, South Korea's military has said.  The test comes just days ahead of its nuclear talks with the US. It is the first time in 3 years that it has tested an underwater missile and has landed so close to Japan's exclusive economic zone. 

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Missile launch 

The missile which North Korea fired, reportedly flew for 450 Kilometres or 280 miles at an altitude of 910 Kilometers (565 miles) after launch from an undisclosed place in the waters of North Korea's eastern coastal town of Wonsan, South Korea's Joint Chief of staff said in a statement.  Intelligence agencies of South Korea and the US are investigating more about the launch, the statement added. However, South Korean military officials haven't revealed as to whether the missile was fired from a submarine, a flatboat or any other platform. As per the South Korean Presidential office, during an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, officials have hedged their bets on North Korea performing a submarine-launched missile test and have expressed “Strong concerns.”  Reports suggest that a Joint Chiefs of Staff statement said the weapon fired Tuesday is believed to be a “Pukguksong-class” missile which is a solid-fuel missile that North Korea had launched as a part of tet in 2016, with expectations that it can be a part of North's submarine arsenal even as it flew over 500kms. 

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Japan reacts

Meanwhile, Japan has registered its quick protest against North Korea and saying that the Missile has entered Japan's economic exclusive zone. If this is proven then it shall be the first time since a North Korean missile has landed close to Japan since November 2017. Japan said that North Korea has fired two missiles but later issued an update by saying only one launch was there and that missile probably broke in two parts. Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono has said it is a serious threat to Japanese national security adding that the launch without a warning is an extremely problematic and dangerous act for the safety of ships and aircraft. Kono refused to say whether it was a submarine-launched missile. Prime Minister of Japan too condemned the launch and said that it is in direct violation of UN resolutions that sanctions North Korea from conducting any ballistic launch. 
Abe said that cooperation with the US and the international community will continue and that they will do anything to maintain and protect the safety of people by staying on alert.

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Missile launch can be North's way to express dissatisfaction

Experts say that missile launch can be seen as North's way to express dissatisfaction over South's display of F-35 jets recently. The North has reportedly called F-35 purchase a grave provocation that violates recent inter-Korean agreement which has the objective of lowering military conflict. Experts say with North Korea having the ability to launch underwater missile will be a cause of concern as such weapons are rather hard to detect beforehand, adding that North Korea may be raising stakes and ratcheting up pressure on the US before nuclear negotiators meet on Saturday. North Korea and the US have not revealed as to where they will be meeting. 

(With inputs from Associated Press)

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