North Korea fires ballistic missile in extension of testing

By KIM TONG-HYUNG and MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has fired a ballistic missile into the sea, according to its neighbors’ militaries, extending its streak of weapons tests amid a prolonged freeze in nuclear negotiations with the United States. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says the missile fired from an area near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang flew about 168 miles before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It was North Korea’s ninth round of weapons tests this year as it continues to use a pause in diplomacy to expand its military capabilities while attempting to pressure the Biden administration for concessions. The launch came as South Koreans waited in long lines for early voting ahead of a presidential election on Wednesday.