North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Off East Coast, Japan Says North Korea's latest ballistic missile firing has sparked alarm and hand wringing, but beneath the headlines lies a more complex reality.
The launch, confirmed by Japan's defense ministry on Sunday, is just the latest in a long string of provocations that have become all too familiar in recent years.
In recent weeks, North Korea has dismissed a UN resolution condemning its nuclear program, condemned a US led naval drill with South Korea and Japan, and reiterated Kim Jong Un's sister's vow to strengthen the country's nuclear arsenal.