North Korea launches biggest missile tests since 2017

SEOUL: North Korea has conducted what is thought to be its biggest missile launch since 2017, BBC has reported.

South Korea reported that the launch took place at 07:52 local time on Sunday off North Korea’s east coast, it said.

Japan, South Korea and the US have all condemned the launch, the seventh test this month, according to the report.

The UN prohibits North Korea from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests, and has imposed strict sanctions.

But the East Asian state regularly defies the ban, and leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to bolster his country’s defences.

South Korea’s National Security Council said Sunday’s test was an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which would be the biggest missile tested since November 2017.

Japanese and South Korean officials estimated that the missile reached an altitude of 2,000km (1240 miles) and flew for 30 minutes to a distance of 800km (500 miles). It landed in the Sea of Japan.

The United States called on North Korea to “refrain from further destabilising acts”.

(BBC)