SEOUL -- North Korea's launch of a long-range ballistic missile Wednesday appears to have been aimed at showing off technological advancements in its weapons arsenal. It is also thought to have been a provocation ahead of this month's 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement.
July 27 -- the date the armistice was signed to end the 1950-53 war -- is commemorated in North Korea as the anniversary of what it calls its victory over the United States.
It is possible Pyongyang will ratchet up military tensions in the coming days.
