North Korea fires ballistic missile toward East Sea

North Korea test fires a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile at Pyongyang International Airport on Nov. 18. [YONHAP]

 
North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea on Sunday morning, according to South Korean defense officials.  
 
Seoul's military is analyzing details about the launch, such as its flight trajectory, altitude, and speed.


Sunday's launch is the first by the North since it conducted a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last month, which Seoul's military officials and experts believe was successful. 
 
The latest ballistic missile launch came after the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday calling for international efforts to improve human rights conditions in the North. 
 
The launch also followed Japan's announcement that it would move to acquire "counterstrike" capabilities, or the ability to hit enemy bases with long-range missiles, as part of sweeping new changes to its national security strategy. 
 
North Korea has fired 64 ballistic missiles so far this year. 

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]