Tensions rise as North and South Korea test rival missiles hours apart

People watch a TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea’s missiles with file image, in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into waters off its eastern coast Wednesday afternoon, two days after claiming to have tested a newly developed missile in a resumption of its weapons displays after a six-month lull. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

The rival Koreas have test-launched ballistic missiles hours apart in a display of military assets amid a faltering diplomatic push to strip North Korea of its nuclear programme.

South Korea’s presidential office said it conducted its first underwater-launched ballistic missile test on Wednesday afternoon. It said a domestically built missile fired from a 3,000-ton submarine flew a set distance before hitting a designated target.