SEOUL – North Korea has fired at least one ballistic
missile on Friday, which flew about 800 kilometres before hitting the sea off
its east coast, South Korea’s military said, as the isolated state stepped up
its defiance of tough new United Nations and United States sanctions.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said the missile was
likely a medium-range Rodong-missile. If confirmed, it would mark North Korea’s
first test of a medium range missile, capable of reaching Japan, since 2014.

The launch comes amid heightened tension on the Korean
peninsula after the North rejected UN Security Council sanctions imposed
earlier in the month in response to a nuclear test conducted in January and the
United States issued fresh sanctions this week.

In a statement, South’s Office of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff said the missile was launched from north of the capital, Pyongyang,
flying across the peninsula and into the sea off the east coast early Friday
morning.

It appeared the North may have fired a second missile
soon after from the same region, with a projectile disappearing from radar at
an altitude of about 17 km, it added.

South Korea did not confirm the type of the missiles.
But 800 km was likely beyond the range of most short-range missiles in the
North’s arsenal. The North’s Rodong missile has an estimated maximum range of
1,300 km, according to the South’s defence ministry.

The US State Department said in a statement it was
closely monitoring the situation and urged North Korea to focus on taking
concrete steps toward fulfilling its international commitments and obligations.

JAPAN
CONCERNED

Japan quickly condemned the launch, lodging a protest
with North Korea through its embassy in Beijing, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told
parliament.

“Japan strongly demands North Korea to exercise
self-restraint and will take all necessary measures, such as warning and
surveillance activity, to be able to respond to any situations,” Mr Abe
said.

Last week, the North fired two short-range missiles into
the sea off its east coast and its leader Kim Jong-Un ordered more nuclear
weapons tests and missile tests to improve attack capability.

North Korea often fires missiles at periods of tension
on the Korean peninsula or when it comes under pressure to curb its defiance
and abandon its weapons programmes.

New US sanctions on Pyongyang were issued on Wednesday
aiming to expand its blockade by blacklisting individuals and entities that
deal with the North’s economy.

The North has also reacted angrily to annual joint
military drills by US and South Korean troops that began on March 7, calling
the exercises “nuclear war moves” and threatening to wipe out its
enemies.

– Reuters