North Korea Capable of Testing Submarine-Launched Missiles at 'Any Time'

According to South Korea's military chiefs it is impossible to predict Pyongyang's actions Seoul expects North Korea to commit provocations "at any time".

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — North Korea is capable of testing submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) at any time, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Lee Sun-jin said Sunday, local media reported.

"The DPRK can at any time conduct ballistic missile tests from submarines and commit other provocations. It is impossible to predict when, where and how this will take place. There is a high probability of armed provocations in nearby areas, in the northwest or in the rear," Lee said in a statement, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.

Earlier Sunday, North Korea launched the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite atop a long-range rocket. The launch sparked concern in Japan and South Korea, with South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok previously saying that Seoul would consider any of Pyongyang’s satellite launches as a ballistic missile test.