It is Pyongyang’s first ballistic missile launch since November, when it staged a test after US President Donald Trump approved South Korea’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine.
One analyst said Trump’s Saturday military operation against Venezuela likely played a role in the decision to carry out the launch.
Pyongyang has for decades argued it needs its nuclear and missile programme as a deterrent against alleged regime change efforts by Washington. The US has offered Pyongyang repeated assurances it has no such plans.
“They likely fear that if the US so chooses, it could launch a precision strike at any moment, threatening the regime’s survival,” Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said.
“The underlying message is likely that attacking North Korea would not be as easy as a strike on Venezuela,” he added.
Lee bound for China
The test also came just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departs for Beijing for talks with President Xi Jinping, whose Government is a key economic backer of North Korea.
Lee hopes to possibly harness China’s clout over North Korea to support his bid to improve ties with Pyongyang.
Pyongyang has significantly stepped up missile testing in recent years.
Analysts say this drive is aimed at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging the US as well as South Korea and testing weapons before potentially exporting them to Russia.
Pyongyang is also set to hold a landmark congress of its ruling party in the coming weeks – its first in five years.
Economic policy, as well as defence and military planning, are likely to be high on the agenda.
Before that conclave, leader Kim Jong Un ordered the “expansion” and modernisation of the country’s missile production and the construction of more factories to meet growing demand.
Today, state media reported that Kim had paid a visit to a facility involved in making tactical guided weapons.
He ordered them to expand current production capacity by 250%, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
– Agence France-Presse