North Korea said on Tuesday it had launched a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Monday as a drill to confirm the war readiness of its nuclear deterrence force in the face of mounting hostility by the United States.
On Beijing visit, North Korean deputy foreign minister tells top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi his country will continue to deepen ties with China as Pyongyang launches fifth ICBM this year.
North Korea conducts consecutive missile launches, firing apparent long-range ballistic missiles towards the sea, escalating tensions amidst condemnation of U.S.-led military displays. South Korea and Japan report the launches, lacking details on range and altitude. Heightened by recent meetings and military displays, including the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine, North Korea denounces such actions, accusing the U.S. and South Korea of provocation. The U.S. and South Korea intensify joint drills in response to North Korea s missile tests and threats.
North Korea says it has "successfully launched" a rocket carrying a spy satellite and it "accurately" entered into orbit, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
North Korea notifies Japan of its plan to launch a satellite-carrying rocket in a window starting from midnight Tuesday, the Japanese government says, following two failures to put a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit earlier this year.