North Korea test-fires missile into sea

NORTH KOREA test-fired a short-range missile into the sea yesterday in what was seen as an attempt to raise tension further in the stand-off over its nuclear programmes and pressure the United States into talks.

The widely anticipated launch from a base on North Korea’s east coast fit a pattern of unusual military manoeuvres in recent weeks, including the North’s interception a week ago of a US reconnaissance plane.

“This is another show of North Korean brinkmanship,” said Yoon Dong-min, of the state-funded Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in Seoul. “They are trying to raise the stakes in the nuclear stand-off and trying to get the upper hand ahead of possible talks with the United States,” Yoon said. North Korea wants a non-aggression treaty and economic aid from the US, but Washington says the UN Security Council should handle the nuclear problem.