(2nd LD) N. Korea fires 1 ballistic missile toward East Sea: S. Korean military

South Korea's military reported on August 12 that North Korea had fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea, marking the second such launch in less than a week. The missile was launched from the Wonsan area on the east coast and was detected by the Joint Chiefs of Staff around 6 a.m., flying over 700 kilometers. South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies were tracking the launch from its early stages and shared information with Japan, maintaining a full readiness posture through cooperation.

The JCS stated that the military is closely monitoring North Korean activities and is prepared to respond to any provocation. This launch occurred six days after another short-range ballistic missile was fired toward the East Sea, as South Korea and the U.S. prepare for their annual combined military exercise next week. North Korea has strongly protested the allied drills, which it calls war rehearsals, and has conducted its own weapons tests in protest.

South Korea's National Security Office expressed concerns over the recent missile launches and urged North Korea to stop these provocations, which violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. The latest launch brought the total number of such launches by North Korea this year to 11.