South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said on Saturday that Russia’s attack on Ukraine and global attention to the war had emboldened North Korea, which earlier in the day launched a long-range ballistic missile into the sea off Japan’s west coast, Reuters reported.

ballistic missile launched by North KoreaPhoto: Yuki Kurose/AP/Profimedia

The missile launch clearly signaled an “intention to lead further challenges,” Park said at a global security conference in Munich.

“Looking forward, if North Korea conducts its seventh nuclear test, which could happen at any moment, it will change the facts in the sense that North Korea will be able to develop and deploy tactical nuclear missiles,” he added.

North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile into the sea off Japan’s west coast on Saturday after warning of a strong response to upcoming military exercises between South Korea and the United States, Reuters reported.

In fact, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last year that the Asian country was sending a “significant number” of missiles to Russia “covertly” “trying to create the impression that they were sent there.” in the Middle East or in Africa.”

North Korea called the accusations “baseless”.