North Korea tests submarine-launched missile

North Korea’s test fire of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which traveled farther than previous tests, showed signs of progress, South Korea said Wednesday. 

“The SLBM launched earlier in the day indicated (technical) improvements compared with the North’s previous tests,” South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

The missile, which was launched on Wednesday at about 5:30 a.m. Seoul time, or about 4:30 p.m. D.C. time on Tuesday, traveled about 500 kilometers, or roughly 300 miles, the U.S. and South Korean militaries said.

{mosads}The presumed KN-11 missile was launched off the coast of the eastern city of Sinpo and landed in the Sea of Japan.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command determined that the missile did not pose a threat to North America, according to the U.S. Strategic Command statement.

The United States plans to raise concerns at the United Nations to “bolster international resolve” in responding to North Korea’s missile tests in violation of U.N. Security Council sanctions, the Strategic Command statement said.

“We strongly condemn this and North Korea’s other recent missile tests, which violate U.N. Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea’s launches using ballistic missile technology,” the statement said.

The test comes days after the United States and South Korea kicked off annual military drills, typically a time of increased tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The North had threatened at the start of the exercises to launch a “preemptive nuclear strike” should it see the “slightest sign of aggression” from the South and the United States.

Tensions are running high this year following North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January, followed by multiple missile tests throughout the year. North Korea’s No. 2 ambassador to the United Kingdom also defected to South Korea last week, infuriating Pyongyang.