North Korea confirms submarine missile launch amid tensions

People in South Korea watch news reports of a missile test by the neighbouring North (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

North Korea on Wednesday confirmed it had tested a newly developed missile designed to be launched from a submarine, the first such weapons test in two years and one it says will bolster its military’s underwater operational capability.

The test on Tuesday was the fifth missile launch since September and came as North Korea steps up pressure on Washington and Seoul to abandon what Pyongyang sees as hostile polices such as joint US-South Korea military drills and international sanctions on the North.