North Korea launches ballistic missiles, as IAEA chief says world ‘holding breath’ over possible nuclear test
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there were increasing indications that North Korea is preparing to carry out its first nuclear test since 2017
- Warning from the IAEA comes as South Korea said North Korea fired two ballistic missile toward its eastern waters on Friday
“Everybody is holding its breath about this, because another nuclear test would be yet another confirmation of a programme which is moving full steam ahead, in a way that is incredibly, incredibly concerning,” IAEA head Rafael Grossi said after meeting with the UN World Security Council on Ukraine.
“Further tests, of course, means that they are refining the preparations and the construction of their arsenal,” he told reporters.
“So we are following this very, very closely. We hope it doesn’t happen, but indications unfortunately go in another direction,” Grossi said.
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Grossi’s warning came before South Korea said North Korea fired two ballistic missile toward its eastern waters.
South Korea’s military detected the two launches from the North’s eastern coastal Tongchon area around midday on Friday, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. It said both missiles flew about 230 kilometres (140 miles) at a maximum altitude of 24 kilometres (15 miles).
