North Korea Launches a Ballistic Missile, South Korea Says

SEOUL — North Korea on ​Sunday launched​ a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast in its eighth missile test of the year, the South Korean military said.

The missile was launched at 7:52 a.m. from Sunan, near Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, the South Korean military said. No further details were immediately released.

​North Korea conducted seven missile tests in January, more than in all of 2021. Until now, it had refrained from weapons tests this month, possibly out of deference to China, its only major ally, which was hosting the Beijing Winter Olympics.

With the Games now over, analysts had said that the North might return to testing missiles again, not only to advance its weapons technology but also to gain diplomatic leverage with the United States, in hopes of eventually securing a reduction of international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program. The latest launch comes as the Biden administration is focused on the crisis in Ukraine.

North Korea conducted its last missile test on Jan. 30, when it launched a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile off its east coast into the sea. It was the country’s boldest missile test since November 2017, when it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile.