North Korea fires ballistic missile: South Korea military

North Korea has repeatedly declared itself an 'irreversible' nuclear state. (Photo: AFP)

SEOUL — North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan on Thursday, Seoul's military said, with the launch coming after Pyongyang lambasted Japan's military build-up in the Pacific.

North Korea, which since 2019 has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state, featured among growing regional threats in a recent Japanese government assessment.