SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea has fired a missile into the Sea of Japan, escalating a tense standoff on the peninsula as world leaders gather in Seoul for the inauguration of South Korea's new president.

In a provocative move ahead of Roh Moo- hyun's inauguration, Pyongyang fired a missile into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, South Korea's Ministry of Defense said.

CNN.com - N. Korea test fires missile - Feb. 24, 2003