North Korea has confirmed it fired a Hwasong-12 “mid-range ballistic missile” on Sunday, the first time it has tested a weapon of that size since 2017. Al Jazeera reports that Japan and South Korea, both of which detected the launch, have condemned the test as a threat to regional security, with South Korean officials warning the launch could lead to the resumed testing of long-range weapons and nuclear bombs. North Korea has previously said the Hwasong-12 can carry a “large-size heavy nuclear warhead” but the state news agency reported that the missile launch was conducted in such a way as to ensure the safety of neighbouring countries, and that the test warhead was fitted with a camera that took photos while it was in space.
