Kicking off their new year with a bang, North Korea has reportedly launched a ballistic missile, landing it in the East Sea, or Sea of Japan.

Fired from the land, it is suspected to be smaller than previous launches as an attempt to show military might, while avoiding large economic sanctions.

Despite having a population that hovers around constant starvation, North Korea leader Kim Jong-un has consistently vowed to bolster defence capabilities.

The North have tested a variety of missiles over the last year, as talks with South Korea and the United States stall.

Japan's defence ministry said the recent missile flew around 500 kilometres, but that is far smaller than their true capability.

Since 2017, the North has launched missiles capable of reaching most of the US mainland.

The Hwasong-14 and 15 missiles surprised many ballistic experts and signalled a huge leap forward in Kim Jong-un's defensive technology.

Does North Korea have nuclear weapons?

North Korea does have nuclear weapons and has successfully tested a thermonuclear bomb six times more powerful than the one dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

Not only this, but they have an estimated 40 nuclear warheads. These can be carried by missiles that could reach, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York with ease.

Some military experts have warned they could possess technology to make them manoeuvrable mid-flight and therefore harder to detect.

North Korea blatantly violates UN Security Council resolutions regularly, but has highlighted hypocrisy.

Their neighbours, South Korea, launched a ballistic missiles from a submarine in September 2021, making it the first nation to do so without nuclear weapons.

The South's president, Moon Jae-in, said the test was "Not a response to North Korea" but noted "the reinforcement of our missile capabilities can be a clear deterrent to North Korea’s provocations."

South Korea, a long time ally of the US, has the capability to make a nuclear warhead, but has chosen not to do so.

Worryingly for peace in the region, the top People Power Party 2022 presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, has stated he would demand the US redeploy tactical nuclear weapons in the South.

After talks between then President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un failed in 2019 despite much promise, tensions have steadily risen.