U.S. confirms N. Korea's submarine missile launch

The U.S. Defense Department confirmed North Korea's launch of a submarine missile Saturday, saying the firing did not pose a threat to North America.

"The U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) systems detected and tracked what we assess was a North Korean submarine missile launch"

at 4:29 a.m. CDT, the Pentagon said in a statement. "According to North American Aerospace Defense Command, the missile launched from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America.

"The men and women of USSTRATCOM, NORAD, and U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Pacific Command remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security," it said.

Earlier, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the North fired what was believed to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) around 6:30 p.m. (Korean time) in the East Sea, but it flew for only about 30 kilometers, well short of the minimum SLBM range of 300 km.

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby declined comment on whether the launch was successful but stressed that any "launches using ballistic missile technology are a clear violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions."

"We closely monitor North Korean activities and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, especially North Korean military activities," he told Yonhap News Agency. "We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further destabilize the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations."

Kirby also said that the U.S. remains steadfast in its commitments to the defense of allies and will continue to coordinate closely with the ROK, Japan, and other allies and partners. (Yonhap)

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