North Korea test fires ballistic missile

Since Western leaders don’t have enough to worry about, North Korea fires a ballistic missile, resuming a weapons-testing blitz following a month of relative calm during the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The launch is Pyongyang’s eighth so far this year.

Despite biting international sanctions, Pyongyang has doubled down on military development and last month threatened to abandon a self-imposed moratorium on firing long-range and nuclear weapons.

Analysts had widely predicted Pyongyang would seek to capitalize on US distraction over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with new tests.

South Korea’s military says it detected a ballistic missile fired toward the Sea of Japan at 07:52 local time from Pyongyang.

“The latest ballistic missile has a range of around 300 kilometers and an altitude of around 620 kilometers and details are under close analysis by South Korean and US intelligence,” it adds. Japan also confirms the launch.

The recent pause in testing during the Beijing Winter Olympics was seen as a mark of deference to North Korea’s key diplomatic ally and economic benefactor China.

The latest launch also comes as South Korea gears up to elect its next president on March 9.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.