North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile toward sea

Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests in recent months, raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula

The launch comes as North Korea and South Korea are set to hold high-level talks next week

North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile toward the sea on Thursday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a series of missile tests by Pyongyang that have raised tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The launch comes as North Korea and South Korea are set to hold high-level talks next week to discuss denuclearization and other issues.

The South Korean military said in a statement that it detected the launch from the Sunan area of Pyongyang at around 7:52 a.m. local time.

The missile flew about 400 kilometers (250 miles) before landing in the sea, the statement said.

The South Korean military said it was analyzing the type of missile launched.

The launch is the latest in a series of missile tests by North Korea in recent months.

In January, North Korea fired a new type of hypersonic missile that can travel at speeds of up to Mach 10.

In March, North Korea fired a ballistic missile that landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The missile tests have raised concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

North Korea is believed to be developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles that could reach the United States.

The United States and South Korea have called on North Korea to stop its missile tests and return to denuclearization talks.

North Korea has said that it will not give up its nuclear weapons unless the United States withdraws its troops from South Korea and ends its sanctions on North Korea.

The missile tests have also raised tensions between North and South Korea.

North Korea has threatened to take military action if South Korea continues to conduct joint military exercises with the United States.

South Korea has said that it will continue to conduct joint military exercises with the United States as a deterrent to North Korea.

The high-level talks between North and South Korea are scheduled to be held in Seoul next week.

The talks will be the first high-level talks between the two Koreas since 2019.

The talks are expected to focus on denuclearization and other issues.