N Korea fires ballistic missile to 'provoke' Trump, says Seoul

February 12, 2017 08:25

North Korea has fired a ballistic missile apparently to 'provoke' new United States President Donald Trump, the South Korean defence ministry said on Sunday.

The missile was launched at around 7.55 am (local time) from Banghyon air base in the western province of North Pyongan. It flew 500 kilometres towards the Sea of Japan (East Sea) before falling into it, a defence ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by news agencies.

The exact type of the missile is yet to be identified.

'It is believed that today's missile launch ... is aimed at drawing global attention to the North by boasting its nuclear and missile capabilities,' the ministry said in a statement.

It is also believed that it was an armed provocation to test the response from the new US administration under President Trump, it added.

Yonhap news agency said the South Korean military suspected the North might have been testing an intermediate-range Musudan missile. -- Agencies

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