North Korea fires a ballistic missile

North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast on Saturday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, after Pyongyang warned of a strong response to upcoming U.S.-South Korea military drills.
Japan’s Coast Guard also said North Korea fired what could be a ballistic missile.
The firing comes after North Korea threatened on Friday an “unprecedentedly persistent, strong” response as South Korea and the United States gear up for annual military exercises as part of efforts to fend off the North’s growing nuclear and missile threats.
Nuclear-armed North Korea fired an unprecedented number of missiles last year, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that could strike anywhere in the United States, while resuming preparations for its first nuclear test since 2017.