North Korea has fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast, in its first such launch since October. The missile landed in water between the Korean peninsula and Japan, bringing condemnation from Seoul and Tokyo. The UN prohibits North Korea from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests. Leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to bolster the North’s defences. It tested a variety of missiles last year amid stalled talks with the South and US. The latest launch – the first since a New Year speech in which Mr Kim set out policy priorities for 2022 – was first reported by the Japanese coast guard early on Wednesday, before being confirmed by defence authorities in Seoul. “South Korean and US intelligence are closely analysing for further detail,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement. Japan’s Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said the suspected ballistic missile had flown about 500 km (310 miles), Reuters reported.(BBC)…[+]