North Korea SLBM launch successful, South Korean source says

SEOUL, April 19 (UPI) -- A submarine-launched ballistic missile North Korea tested in early April may have been successful, despite early reports the device may have failed during testing.

The projectile was launched from 20 meters below water from a 1,800-ton Sinpo-class submarine, South Korean news network Channel A reported.

A South Korean military official said the SLBM flew about 200 meters vertically, off the eastern coast of North Korea near the port city of Sinpo.

In previous reports, South Korean sources had claimed the SLBM launch, which took place April 6, was likely a failure.

Moon Geun-sik, a former South Korean Navy captain, told Channel A satellite imagery was used by the military to acquire the information.

Last August, Moon had said North Korea's deployment of a large fleet of submarines could be seen as a way of creating a distraction when launching a simultaneous attack against major ports and facilities in South Korea.

Experts have said North Korea could be preparing a fifth nuclear test, but according to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel, the United States stands ready to enact more powerful sanctions against Pyongyang, South Korean newspaper Herald Business reported Tuesday.

According to Russel, in the event of a fifth nuclear test, new sanctions could block the flow of dollar remittances from North Korean overseas workers.