North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile towards Japan early Wednesday morning. The missile reached an altitude of about 2,800 miles, with initial estimates saying it will be the highest altitude reached by a North Korean missile.
In the last two decades, North Korea has launched more than 40 missiles in major provocations, with around 30 in the last two years alone.
Beginning in 1976, North Korea began developing missiles using Scud-B from the Soviet Union and launchpads from Egypt. Through the 1980's and 1990's, it began testing additional missiles, like the Rodong in 1990, and the Nodong-1 missile in 1993.
North Korea launched its first ballistic missile, the Unha-1 rocket, in 1998, and has since made significant advances both with nuclear warheads and with ballistic missiles.
There have been more than a dozen ballistic missile tests in 2017 so far, and here's what we know about each of them:
SEE ALSO: Images of North Korea's latest missile launch reveal a big problem for the US
February 12: North Korea successfully tested a Pukguksong-2, missile, a new intermediate-range missile.
It was the first missile launched into the Sea of Japan since US President Donald Trump took office. General John Hyten, the commander of US Strategic Command, said this launch marked a significant advancement for North Korea.
North Korea names its missiles Pukguksong when they're meant to fire from submarines, and Hwasong when they're meant to fire from ground launchers.
March 6: Four ballistic missiles were fired from the North Pyongan province, near China's border.
The tested missiles flew 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) before landing in the Sea of Japan. The US also began installing the a missile defense system (THAAD) in South Korea as protection against missile attack from the North.
March 22: North Korea tested a mobile-launched missile that exploded within minutes of taking off.
The type of missile launched was not confirmed. The launch signaled increasing frequency of North Korean missile testing.
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