North Korea fires 'Scud missile' into Sea of Japan

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North Korea has fired what appears to be a short-range Scud missile off its east coast, South Korea's military has said.

The missile was launched from around the eastern North Korean coastal town of Wonsan, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. It flew about 280 miles (450km) before landing in the sea in Japan's exclusive maritime economic zone. There were no immediate reports of damage to planes or vessels in the area. Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the launch was "a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions". He added: "Japan absolutely cannot tolerate North Korea's repeated provocative actions. We have strongly protested to North Korea and condemn its actions in the strongest terms."https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIPGMSDfm7RnHX-i4lwpPnyzMd1tykg__e1tLXiNfu3X1kcDM60zReT1CxQw_eAgdhNdzlJliie1IwwfIy2N64LzhNP688MLQ4T-bCt3vI0WHDczjMyb2tMftnOBoS9hGlKRvSQn0g8Ub/s1600/sssss.jpgThe White House said President Donald Trump has been briefed about the launch. There was no immediate comment from the North's state controlled media.

However, Western experts believe Pyongyang is a few years away from successfully developing such a weapon. North Korea's defiant ballistic missile tests have created tensions with Washington in recent months. The reclusive nation has continued with its programme despite painful UN and unilateral sanctions - and described such punishment as an infringement of its right to self-defence. Pyongyang maintains nuclear weapons are necessary to counter US aggression, but America denies it has any intention to attack the North