LOC02:55
23:55 GMT
TOKYO, Aug 24 (KUNA) -- North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The JCS said that the North launched the SLBM from waters at around 5:30 a.m. (2030 Tuesday GMT), adding that the missile flew about 500 kilometers, which is an improvement compared with past launches.
North Korea's missile fell in Japan's air defense identification zone, it added.
Tensions are high on the divided peninsula as North Korea threatened to wage a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on South Korea and the US against the allies' annual military exercise.
Seoul and Washington on Monday kicked off an annual two-week joint military drill involving about 75,000 troops. North Korea has long denounced the joint drill as a rehearsal for a northward invasion, a charge denied by Seoul and Washington.
"North Korea's launch of the SLBM seemed to be aimed at raising military tension in response to the Seoul-Washington military drill," the JCS said. "We will sternly and strongly respond to any provocation by North Korea," it added. (end)
mk.msa