North Korea fires missile after warning Kim Jong-un 'may prepare test'

A senior US administration official told a Friday briefing that a nuclear test or other provocation was possible on Kamala's next trip Harris in South Korea

Kim Jong Un in a 2017 file photo (

Image: AFP via Getty Images

North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the east coast on Sunday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The projectile appears to have landed outside of Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to Japanese state broadcaster NHK.

The launch came as a US aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea to participate in joint exercises with South Korean forces, and days ahead of a planned visit next week by the US Vice President Kamala Harris.

A senior US administration official said in a Friday briefing that a nuclear test or other provocation was possible during Harris' trip to the region, but they had no predictions or announcements to do.

A photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency in March showing the test launch of what state media is reporting as a new type of ICBM (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

The purpose of the trip is to "reaffirm America's commitment to our allies in an increasingly complex security environment" and to "deepen our overall engagement in the Indo-Pacific" in addition to honor the former prime minister, officials said.

The visit comes after US President Joe Biden accused North Korea of ​​"flagrant violations of UN sanctions" in a speech before the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, citing the country among the reasons to strengthen international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

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