S. Korea Says N. Korea Has Fired a Ballistic Missile Into Sea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile into the sea.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says the missile flew 800 kilometers (500 miles) before crashing off the North's east coast on Friday.

It wasn't immediately known what type of missile was fired.

(KNS/AFP/Getty Images)

The launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered tests of a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying warheads. North Korea had also said it succeeded in a simulated test of a re-entry vehicle aimed at returning a nuclear warhead safely back to the atmosphere from space during a missile launch.

Taken together, Seoul analysts had said Pyongyang would likely fire a missile to test the re-entry technology that it needs acquire to develop a long-range nuclear missile.

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