LOC13:07
10:07 GMT
TOKYO, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- North Korea launched one suspected short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on Friday, South Korea's military said, a day after the North warned of proper measures against the latest US sanctions on Pyongyang, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from near Taegwan County in North Phyongan Province at 12:35 p.m. (0325 GMT), without providing further details.
The missile flew about 700 km before splashing into the sea, the JCS said, adding further analysis is under way with the US side to determine its specifications.
South Korean and US intelligence authorities detected signs of the North's missile launch preparations in advance and had been closely monitoring the situation, it added, noting relevant information has been shared with the US and Japan.
The North last fired short-range ballistic missiles northeastward on October 22 ahead of South Korea's hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and US President Donald Trump's visit to the country.
The move came a day after North Korea denounced the latest US sanctions on eight North Korean individuals and two entities over cybercrime-related money laundering. North Korea slammed the US sanctions as reaffirming Washington's hostile policy toward Pyongyang, vowing to take proper measures with patience.
Earlier this week, the US State Department also said it is seeking UN sanctions on seven ships accused of illegally exporting North Korean coal and iron ore to China in violation of UN Security Council sanctions over the North's nuclear and missile programs. (end)
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