South Korea's newly-elected president has convened an emergency security meeting in response to the missile launch. US Pacific Command said data suggests it was not an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/W. Maye-E
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North Korea on Sunday fired a projectile that appeared to be a ballistic missile, marking the first of its kind since the election of South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
Moon convened an emergency National Security Council meeting in response to the launch, according to a statement from the presidency. After the meeting, the president condemned the launch as a "serious challenge" to international peace and security.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Pyongyang had fired an "unidentified projectile" from Kusong, northwest of the North Korean capital, without further elaborating on the situation.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the projectile traveled roughly 800 kilometers (500 miles) and landed in the Sea of Japan, outside the country's exclusive economic zone. It marks the fifth consecutive attempt by North Korea to test-launch ballistic missiles in the past two months.
US Pacific Command said it had detected the missile launch, but noted the data was not consistent with the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
'Grave threat'
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that Pyongyang's decision to fire a ballistic missile violated several UN resolutions that ban the communist nation from developing such weapons technology.
"North Korea's repeated missile launches are a grave threat to our country and a clear violation of UN resolutions," Abe said.
Pyongyang has attempted to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach the US mainland.
Analysts believe that while Pyongyang has yet to reach its goal, the country has made progress on its ballistic missiles program.
Trump later said he would be "honored" to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "under the right circumstances."
Pyongyang has also made overtures for discussions with Washington, stipulating that it would be open to talks "under the right conditions."
However, the installation of the missile defense system THAAD has prompted concerns from North Korea and its key regional ally, China. The defense system went operational earlier this month, according to US authorities.
Guns, gold and gas: What UN sanctions target North Korea?
International observers say North Korea continues to flout bans on its pursuit of a nuclear weapons program. The UN Security Council has increased sanctions on the country.
Image: Reuters/S. Sagolj
Coal and iron
In August 2017, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution banning all coal, iron, iron ore and lead imports from North Korea. Pictured here is China's Liaoning Greenland Energy Coal Co. in Dandong, on the border with North Korea.
Image: Reuters/B. Goh
Currency
North Korea is prohibited from opening banks abroad, and UN member states are prohibited from operating financial institutions on Pyongyang's behalf. Any dealings that might help North Korea skirt the sanctions are banned, and UN member states must expel and repatriate anyone working on the regime's financial behalf.
Image: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
Shipping
This North Korean cargo ship found itself boarded for inspection in the Philippines in March 2016 after the United Nations ordered member nations to de-register any vessel owned, operated or crewed on orders from Pyongyang. North Korean ships also cannot fly the flags of other nations to evade sanctions.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Dumaguing
Air travel
Air Koryo, North Korea's national carrier, remains exempt from aviation sanctions and still has scheduled flights to China and Russia, as well as several domestic routes. However, the airline cannot fly to the European Union, which has banned it on safety grounds, and the United States prevents citizens from legally conducting business with the carrier.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Yonhap
Fuel
In December 2017, a new raft of UN sanctions targeted fuel imports in North Korea, meaning its residents could have difficulties driving the country in Pyeonghwa sedans (pictured above). The sale and transfer of diesel and kerosene are limited while the import of crude oil is capped at 4 million barrels a year.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Ralston
Bank accounts, real estate
UN sanctions limit North Korea's diplomats abroad — at the country's Berlin embassy, for example — to only one bank account each. North Korea is also not permitted to own real estate abroad for any purposes other than consular.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/S.Schaubitzer
Military training
It's a safe bet that North Korea's marching military did not learn its moves abroad: UN sanctions ban foreign security forces from training the country's army, police or paramilitary units. The United Nations does permit medical exchanges, but otherwise allow very little assistance of scientific or technical value.
Image: Reuters/S. Sagolj
Statues
Anyone wanting to own a larger-than-life Kim will have to await the end of North Korea's nuclear program. The UN sanctions currently ban the sale of statues by the nation.