North Korea fires ballistic missile, South Korea military says
North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan on Thursday, Seoul’s military said, with the launch coming after Pyongyang lambasted Japan’s military build-up in the Pacific. North Korea, which since 2019 has repeatedly declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear state , featured among growing regional threats in a recent Japanese government assessment. Tokyo’s Defence…
On Thursday, North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan, according to Seoul’s military. This comes after Pyongyang criticized Japan's increasing military presence in the Pacific region. North Korea has repeatedly declared itself a "irreversible" nuclear state since 2019, adding to regional threats.
Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi recently called for boosting Japan's military with a "sense of urgency and crisis". North Korean state media cited Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, as stating that Pyongyang would establish additional military options due to Japan's transformation. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported the missile was launched from the Wonsan area at around 5pm (0800 GMT).
The JCS noted the missile was headed towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. Tokyo’s defence ministry reported the possible launch of a ballistic missile from North Korea, later stating there was no impact on Japan. Seoul and Washington are analyzing the missile's specifications, and Seoul has strengthened surveillance in anticipation of further launches, sharing information with US and Japanese allies.
The joint Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises between South Korea and the US, aimed at containing the nuclear-armed North, are set to occur later this month. North Korea's ties with Russia have deepened, with the country supplying troops and munitions to Moscow in exchange for support. Analysts suggest Thursday's launch might have been a test of weapons before Kim Jong Un's anticipated visit to Russia.
Experts believe Kim may intend to demonstrate and potentially export the missile systems. Japan's defence ministry did not directly comment on Kim's remarks but emphasized the country's bare minimum defense capabilities, not intended to threaten others. China, a key North Korean ally, has also expressed concern over Japan's "new militarism".
South Korea's new president, Lee Jae Myung, has taken a more diplomatic approach, offering talks with nuclear-armed Pyongyang without preconditions, but the North has not yet responded. The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war due to the armistice ending the 1950-53 conflict, rather than a peace treaty.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
