North Korea has test-fired a suspected ballistic missile
into the sea, according to South Korean and Japanese officials. This firing is
the latest in a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang that came days after it
offered talks with South Korea.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, “an
unidentified projectile” fired from an inland location in North Korea flew
toward the country’s eastern sea on Tuesday morning. The statement said that the suspected launch was being scrutinised by the South Korean and US
intelligence authorities.

Japan‘s Defence Ministry said North Korea fired a possible
ballistic missile but did not provide any further details on the matter, The Associated Press reported.

This is not the only test done by North Korea in recent times.
The country also performed tests of ballistic and cruise missiles earlier this
month in its first such launches in six months, displaying an ability to attack
South Korea and Japan, both key allies of the United States.

But North Korea had also reached out to South Korea last
Friday and Saturday, saying it is open to resuming talks and reconciliatory
steps if conditions are met. According to Some experts, North Korea wants South
Korea to play a role in winning relief from US-led sanctions or other
concessions.

Officials in the United States have repeatedly expressed
hopes to sit down for talks with North Korea but have also made it clear they
will continue sanctions until the North takes concrete steps toward
denuclearization.

A US-led diplomatic effort aimed at convincing North Korea
to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits
remain stalled after two and a half years. A main sticking point in the efforts
is a dispute over the US-led sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear
and missile tests.

(With AP inputs)