Japan & South Korea Say North Has Fired Ballistic Missile

Both the Japanese and South Korean armed forces have stated that North Korea has fired a ballistic missile towards the East Sea/Sea of Japan. This could be the second test so far of the solid-fuel Hwasung-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) following its initial test in mid-April.

• North Korea's development of a solid-fuel ICBM has caused significant concern among the US and its allies in the region. These missiles can be set up to fire in a much reduced time frame compared to liquid-fuelled missiles as they do not need fuelling on the launch pad, instead they are shipped with the fuel already contained within.
• While missile launches from Pyongyang have become somewhat commonplace in recent years, they still notably raise geopolitical tensions in the region and can be seen to limit the chances of any shift towards more cordial relations on the Korean peninsula.