North Korea ‘fires submarine-launched ballistic missile test’
South Korean officials say the missile exploded midair after a few kilometres of flight
BELLIGERENT North Korea has fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile in a test, according to South Korean military.
The projectile was was launched at around 11.30am Seoul time (3.30am UK time) in waters east of the Korean peninsula, the South's defence ministry said in a statement.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff added that it is presumed the missile successfully ejected from the submarine's launch tube, but failed in its early stage of flight - exploding midair after a few kilometres.
The South's Yonhap news agency reported the missile reached a height of 10 km (six miles) when it blew up - but the country's military have not confirmed those details.
The test comes at the end of a week of sharply rising tensions on the peninsula after North Korea dubbed the United States's blacklisting of dictator Kim Jong-Un a 'declaration of war' - and warned of its plans to respond.
Pyongyang lashed out in a furious statement on Thursday after Washington blacklisted the isolated state's leader for alleged human rights abuses.
It described the sanctioning of Kim as a "hideous crime" that is 'an open declaration of war', according o North Korea's official KCNA agency.
The missile launched only a day after the U.S. and South Korea pledged to deploy an advanced anti-missile system to counter threats from the North.
"The U.S. dared challenge the dignity of (North Korea) supreme leadership, an act reminiscent of a new-born puppy knowing no fear of a tiger," the statement said.
"This is the worst hostility and an open declaration of war against (North Korea) as it has gone far beyond the confrontation over the human rights issue."
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has condemned the firing of the ballistic missile, which was launched near the coastal town of Sinpo.
“We should strongly condemn the launch by working with the international community,” Abe said to reporters after the launch.
The North's efforts to develop submarine-launched missile systems are a serious concern for rivals and neighbours because missiles fired from submerged subs are harder to detect in advance.
It has not yet been confirmed how far the most recent missile travelled or where it landed.
North Korea last fast test-fired a similar ballistic missile in April, calling it a "dagger of destruction". The rocket flew for about 30 kilometres (19 miles) before exploding midair.