A navy vessel and other ships evacuated 172 people from the stricken passenger vessel, including two Australian tourists.

In an exclusive interview with CNA’s senior correspondent Melissa Goh, US Ambassador to ASEAN Kevin Kim reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to continued economic and security engagement in the region.

The ballistic missile launch comes as South Korea and the US plan to conduct major joint military drills to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and weapons capabilities.