North Korea test-fired what is believed to be a ballistic missile built to be launched from a submarine from waters off its east coast into Japan's exclusive economic zone off Shimane Prefecture on Wednesday, showing off military technologies that if successfully developed would make it significantly more difficult for the United States to destroy its nuclear arsenal.
The test-firing, which was immediately detected by Tokyo and Seoul, was carried out just hours after Pyongyang said it would resume stalled denuclearization talks with Washington.
North Korea apparently demonstrated its missile technologies with the aim of gaining bargaining power against the United States during the upcoming denuclearization talks.