North Korea launches unidentified projectile toward waters off its east coast, South Korea says
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea launched an unidentified projectile toward the waters off its east coast on Thursday, South…
On Thursday, South Korea's military reported that North Korea had launched an unidentified projectile towards the waters off the country's east coast. The Joint Chiefs of Staff provided no additional specifics regarding the type of weapon fired. This action marks another instance of weapons testing by North Korea in 2026. Since leader Kim Jong Un's high-stakes diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump ended in 2019, North Korea has been concentrating on expanding its nuclear and missile arsenals.
The North Korean leader aims for international recognition as a nuclear state, enabling him to request the removal of economic sanctions imposed by the international community. Recently, Kim Jong Un demonstrated a nuclear-capable cruise missile and additional weapons aboard a new 5,000-ton destroyer. In recent years, the North Korean leader has shifted his focus to naval capabilities, including the development of a nuclear-powered submarine.
At the Workers’ Party congress in February, Kim also outlined his five-year military objectives, advocating for intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of launching underwater. In recent years, Kim has bolstered his diplomatic standing by strengthening ties with Russia. North Korea has provided conventional weapons and troops to Russia in support of its conflict with Ukraine.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
