North Korea fires first suspected ballistic missile of the new year

North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile off its east coast on January 5, 2022. It came just days after Kim Jong-un vowed to continue strengthening the country’s defences. The launch occurred while South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended the groundbreaking ceremony for an inter-Korean railway, which had been seen as a symbol of trust. He warned the missile launch, Pyongyang’s first missile test in about two months, could further cool relations.