North Korea launches missile and flies warplanes near South Korean border

A TV screen shows images of North Korea’s missile launch during a news programme (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

North Korea has launched a ballistic missile towards its eastern waters and flown warplanes near the border with South Korea, the South’s military said, further raising animosities triggered by the North’s recent barrage of weapons tests.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch happened early on Friday but gave no further details including how far the weapon flew.