**North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Toward Sea of Japan**
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile toward the sea on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, adding to a recent flurry of weapons tests by the nuclear-powered country.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was fired from the North’s eastern coastal town of Wonsan and flew about 250 kilometers (155 miles) before landing in the sea.
The launch was the North’s ninth weapons test this year, including seven rounds of ballistic missile launches. It comes just days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea.
The United States and South Korea have warned that North Korea may be preparing for a major weapons test, possibly involving an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a nuclear device.
North Korea has defended its weapons development as a necessary deterrent against the United States and its allies, which it accuses of hostility toward the North.
The latest launch was met with condemnation from the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
“We strongly condemn this launch, which is a clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions,” said U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne in a statement.
“This action is a grave threat to regional security and stability,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
“North Korea’s repeated missile launches are a serious provocation and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions,” said South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong.
The United Nations has imposed sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs, but the North has continued to develop and test weapons in defiance of the sanctions.
The latest launch is likely to further increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula and raise concerns about the potential for a new conflict.
**Additional Information:**
* North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests in recent months, including seven rounds of ballistic missile launches.
* The United States and South Korea have warned that North Korea may be preparing for a major weapons test, possibly involving an ICBM or a nuclear device.
* North Korea has defended its weapons development as a necessary deterrent against the United States and its allies.
* The latest launch was met with condemnation from the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
* The United Nations has imposed sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs, but the North has continued to develop and test weapons in defiance of the sanctions.
**Related News Articles:**
* [North Korea Fires Suspected Ballistic Missile](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/world/asia/north-korea-missile-launch.html) – The New York Times
* [North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile, South Korea Says](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61073785) – BBC News
* [North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Toward Sea of Japan](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-toward-sea-japan-south-korea-2022-03-31/) – Reuters
* [North Korea Missile Launch: US Condemns ‘Clear Violation’ of UN Resolutions](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/31/asia/north-korea-missile-launch/index.html) – CNN
* [North Korea’s Latest Missile Launch Raises Fears of Major Weapons Test](https://www.npr.org/2022/03/31/1090725253/north-korea-missile-launch-icbm-nuclear-test) – NPR.
