North Korea launches ballistic missile as deranged Kim vows to ramp up nuclear programme – Express

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Officials in Seoul claimed the missile was fired at 2:07pm local time from the Sinpo area of North Korea’s east coast. A Japanese coastguard later confirmed the missile had fallen into the Sea of Japan. 

South Korean and US intelligence officials are understood to be analysing the circumstances around the launch.
According to the South Korean military, the missile is presumed to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile
The military is said to be maintaining a state of readiness, Joint Chiefs confirmed.
Saturday’s launch comes just days after another ballistic missile test by North Korea on Wednesday.
It marks the fourteenth missile launch just this year, including one that is believed to have been unsuccessful in March. 
 The launches just this year show a huge increase, as the country conducted only four tests in 2020, and eight in 2021.
Leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to bolster the North’s defences and ramp up his development of nuclear arms at the “highest possible” speed.
The UN prohibits North Korea from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests.
It tested a variety of missiles last year amid stalled talks with the South and US.
Experts say Kim’s rhetoric and the wave of missile launches, offer a glimpse into his ambitions for his weapons program and in particular, his efforts to develop solid-fueled missiles that would be easier to hide from foreign spy agencies.

Social media users jokingly said the North Korean leader was looking “for attention” now the concentration seems to be on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine.
User StevieO, tweeted: “Kim is just mad that little Vlad is getting all the attention when it comes to threatening humanity with a nuclear apocalypse.”
Another replied: “Doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous”. 
User RufusDryer commented: “Threats are the currency of dictators, that’s how they hold onto power at home. But threats don’t determine what other countries do. The bottom line is that the use of nukes would end the life of a dictator and his support mechanism. So….will he or won’t he?”
Another simply called Kim Jong-un’s decision to launch the missiles “crazy”. 


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