North Korea launches ballistic missile amid US concerns

PYONGYANG - North Korea on Sunday test-fired a ballistic missile from a region near its west coast amid tense relation with US, international media reported.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile flew about 700 kilometres (435 miles) for 30 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan, while the US Pacific Command said it did not seem an intercontinental ballistic missile.

New South Korean President Moon Jae-In, who held the office on Wednesday, slammed the launch of missile by North Korea calling it “reckless provocation”.

In his inauguration speech, Moon had said that he wanted to visit Pyongyang “in the right circumstances” to settle the issues on the Korean peninsula.

US President Donald Trump had threatened military action against the North but recently he comes up with soft stance, saying he would be “honoured” to meet the North’s leader Kim Jong-Un under the right conditions.