ROCKET MAN
Kim Jong-un stokes WW3 fears with double ballistic missile as South Korea fires first sub-launched rockets
KIM Jong-un has stoked up World War Three fears with a double ballistic missile test as South Korea fires its first sub-launched rockets.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended a test firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) just hours after rival Pyongyang launched two rockets in a chilling escalation of tensions along the Korean peninsula.
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It comes as Jei-in was present at an underwater SLBM test aboard the new 3,000-tonne class Dosan Ahn Chang-ho KSS submarine last month, his office said.
This makes South Korea the only country to field such weapons without nuclear warheads.
The Blue House said in a statement: "President Moon evaluated that today’s successful test produced results that would make the people feel more relieved and proud, praising the hard work of researchers and related personnel
"The possession of an SLBM has a significant meaning for the purpose of securing deterrence capabilities responding to omnidirectional threats and will play a big role in the establishment of national self-defense and peace on the Korean Peninsula in the future."
Other countries that have tested or developed SLBMs, including the US, Russia, China, Britain, France, North Korea, and India, have typically designed them to carry nuclear weapons.
Experts say this could have ground-breaking implications for , the US, and could usher in a nuclear arms race in the Koreas, according to .
It comes as Pyongyang fired what appear to be a ballistic missile off its east coast just two days after it claimed it was testing new weapons on Wednesday.
The unknown projectile, believed to be a missile, flew towards the Korean Peninsula's east coast.
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The alleged missile test, which was for a "strategic weapon of great significance," was the first test to happen in the last six months, .
According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were fired just after 12:30 p.m. local time, flying 497 miles to a maximum altitude of 37 miles.
Both South Korean and U.S. officials are investigating the incident, according to a statement.
The Japanese coast guard also confirmed that it saw the missile land in waters between and Korea.
According to NBC news, South Korea will be holding emergency talks over on Wednesday afternoon.
In the meantime, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called the missile launch "outrageous", and said it was a “threat to the peace and security” of the region.
He said: "It is in violation of UN Security Council resolution, and I strongly protest and condemn this.
"We will work closely with the U.S., South Korea, and other concerned nations to resolutely protect the lives of our citizens and their peaceful lives."
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It comes as North Korea at its nuclear reactor that's been shut down for three years, according to a watchdog.
The plutonium-producing reactor at Yongbyon has stood inactive since December 2018 - but last month was reportedly seen discharging cooling water.
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China calls for restraint as Kim Jong-un stokes WW3 fears after missile launch sees South Korea fire rockets
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