North Korea prepares for Apec – with a ballistic missile launch

With the Apec summit in South Korea just days away, the nuclear-armed North fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday in an apparent bid to remind the world of its growing arsenal.

The launch, occurring against the backdrop of deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia, has reignited fears of escalating provocations and their implications for global stability.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missile, presumed to be a Hwasong-11da-4.5, was launched from North Hwanghae province at around 8.10am local time.

The short-range tactical ballistic missile, an advanced iteration of the radar-evading KN-23 – known as the “North Korean Iskander” after the missile Russia has put to use with deadly effect in Ukraine – was reportedly launched towards the Sea of Japan but ultimately fell inland.

“While strengthening surveillance and vigilance against the possibility of additional launches, our military is maintaining full readiness, closely sharing related information with the United States and Japan,” South Korea’s military said in a statement.