North Korea fires ballistic missile as South Korea readies new gov't

North Korea fired a ballistic missile eastward into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, the Japanese government said, as neighboring South Korea prepares to inaugurate the first conservative government in five years next week.The missile, fired at around 12:02 p.m. from near North Korea's western coast, is believed to have fallen into waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, senior vice defense minister Makoto Oniki told reporters.Japan estimates the missile traveled to an altitude of around 800 kilometers and covered a distance of around 500 km, while the South Korean military said the m…READ FULL ARTICLE