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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in mid-December
Photo: KCNA/EPA
North Korea has come under international criticism for its missile tests.
Now South Korea has again registered activities in the neighboring country.
According to the South Korean military, North Korea has fired at least one potentially nuclear-capable missile.
The missile was headed towards the Sea of Japan (Korean: East Sea), the General Staff said.
It was a ballistic missile.
Further details were not initially known.
UN resolutions ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles.
Depending on the design, these can be equipped with a nuclear warhead.
The conflict on the Korean peninsula has become significantly more explosive in recent months.
North Korea's military is testing missiles at increased frequency.
The US and South Korea resumed full-scale joint military exercises this year.
Alleged arms deliveries to Russian mercenaries
In addition to the missile tests, North Korea recently made headlines with alleged arms deliveries to Russian forces.
Around 50,000 mercenaries from the Russian »Wagner
«
combat group are said to be stationed in Ukraine at the moment.
According to US estimates, they are also fighting with North Korean weapons.
White House communications director John Kirby said Thursday that "North Korea has completed an initial arms shipment to Wagner" -- the mercenary group paid for it.
"We assume that the amount of material supplied to Wagner will not change the dynamics on the battlefield and in Ukraine, but we are certainly concerned that North Korea is planning to supply more military equipment."
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said North Korea had delivered the weapons last month.
"It is despicable that Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council - in violation of UN Security Council resolutions - is now using weapons from North Korea and Iran to conduct its war of aggression against Ukraine," Thomas-Greenfield said.
asc/dpa
