May 7, 2022 - World

North Korea launches ballistic missile into Sea of Japan

Jacob Knutson

People at a railway station in Seoul on May 7 watching a news broadcast showing file footage of a North Korean missile test. Photo: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images

North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan on Saturday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, according to AP.

Why it matters: The launch marks North Korea's 14th missile launch of 2022, coming just days after it tested another ballistic missile earlier this week.

The big picture: North Korea has significantly escalated its missile testing program this year.

U.S. officials have warned that Kim Jong Un’s government has been making preparations at the underground Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the country's north, indicating that it may be on the verge of resuming underground nuclear weapons testing, according to CNN.

Go deeper: Treasury sanctions cryptocurrency tool tied to North Korean hackers

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North Korea launches ballistic missile into Sea of Japan

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