US confirms North Korea launched short-range ballistic missile

This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 28, 2017 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C-in white shirt) watching the test of a new anti-aircraft guided weapon system organized by the Academy of National Defence Science at an undisclosed location. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has overseen a test of a new anti-aircraft weapon system, state media said on May 28, amid mounting tensions in the region following a series of missile tests by Pyongyang. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR / - South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. /
This undated picture released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 28 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C-in white shirt) watching the test of a new anti-aircraft guided weapon system organized by the Academy of National Defence Science at an undisclosed location.
/ AFP /

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States confirmed Sunday that North Korea has test-launched another ballistic missile.

The US Pacific Command said the short-range missile, launched from near Wonsan Airfield, was tracked for six minutes until it landed in the Sea of Japan.

It was not deemed a threat to North America. The command said it was working on a more detailed assessment of the missile launch.

“We continue to monitor North Korea’s actions closely,” PACOM said in a statement.

“US Pacific Command stands behind our ironclad commitment to the security of our allies in the Republic of Korea and Japan,” it added.

News of the launch comes as US President Donald Trump seeks tougher sanctions against Pyongyang’s isolated nuclear-armed regime, which is on a quest to develop a missile capable of reaching the continental United States.

North Korea has carried out two atomic tests and dozens of rocket firings since the start of last year.
© Agence France-Presse