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North Korea launches unidentified missile on July 4

By Elizabeth Shim
The Kim Jong Un regime launched a ballistic missile on July 4, local time. File Photo by KCNA
The Kim Jong Un regime launched a ballistic missile on July 4, local time. File Photo by KCNA

July 3 (UPI) -- North Korea launched a ballistic missile early Tuesday, local time, into the waters along the eastern coast of the peninsula.

Seoul's joint chiefs of staff stated the missile launched from Panghyon, North Pyongan Province at around 9:40 a.m., could not be identified.

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"The president [Moon Jae-in] has been immediately notified," the joint chiefs said.

North Korea may have recently engaged in a rocket missile engine test, according to U.S. officials, but it has not conducted a rocket test since June 8, when the Kim Jong Un regime fired four anti-ship cruise missiles, according to a Pentagon official who spoke to CNN.

The firing of the surface-to-ship missiles was confirmed by South Korea's joint chiefs of staff and by officials in Tokyo, Japan.

The missiles were launched after the unanimous adoption of a new sanctions resolution at the United Nations Security Council.

The sanctions include a travel ban, an asset freeze on four entities and 14 North Korean officials, including the chief of North Korea's overseas espionage operations.

North Korea also launched a short-range missile on May 29 that flew 280 miles.

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South Korea may be preparing for a transfer of wartime operational control, also known as OPCON, currently under the U.S. Command in South Korea.

Seoul's military is being "swiftly reorganized" following the first summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, South Korean television network MBC reported Tuesday.

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