North Korea fires missile as US nuclear submarine in South Korea

An unidentified ballistic missile from North Korea has been launched into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula, according to Yonhap citing a statement from the South Korean military on the evening of December 17. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it had detected the launch but did not immediately release further details. The Japanese Coast Guard also confirmed that North Korea had launched what appeared to be a ballistic missile.

Triều Tiên phóng tên lửa ngay lúc tàu ngầm hạt nhân Mỹ ở Hàn Quốc - Ảnh 1. — The Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile launched by North Korea in July

The incident came just two days after South Korea's first deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-Hyo predicted that North Korea could launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this month.

The last time North Korea launched a ballistic missile was on November 22, but the launch is believed to have failed, according to the JCS. Meanwhile, the last time North Korea launched an ICBM was in July, using the solid-fuel Hwasong-18.

The latest action took place as the USS Missouri, a Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, entered the naval port in Busan, southern South Korea, on December 17.

"With the deployment of the USS Missouri, we plan to strengthen naval exchanges and cooperation with the US and strengthen our combined defense posture," the South Korean Navy said.

Two weeks ago, the US submarine USS Santa Fe, also nuclear-powered but of the Los Angeles class, docked at a naval port on Jeju Island in southern South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issues new directive; US imposes more sanctions

In a statement following the December 17 launch, the North Korean Defense Ministry condemned the reckless military action of the United States and South Korea in sending nuclear submarines, seeking to end the year with a nuclear war exercise. North Korea said any attempt to use nuclear weapons against the country would be met with a “pre-emptive, devastating response.”

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