North Korea fired a ballistic missile ahead of major US-South Korean military exercise, army says

On Wednesday, North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea's military. The missile reportedly landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone in the sea, as reported by NHK. Following the launch, South Korea's presidential office convened a meeting to urge a halt to provocative actions. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed concern, stating that authorities would take all necessary precautions in response to the missile launch.

This was the second missile launch in under a week, per the South Korean military. North Korea reportedly launched the missile from the Wonsan area. In preparation, South Korea and the United States are set to conduct major joint military drills from August 17 to 27 to counter North Korea's advancing nuclear and weapons capabilities. South Korea's military heightened surveillance, remained on high alert for possible additional launches, and shared information closely with the US and Japan.

North Korea vehemently denounced the annual US-South Korea drills, labeling them as provocations. Earlier this year, the country conducted various tests, including short-range ballistic missiles and artillery rockets. Russian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Tuesday that Moscow had utilized a North Korean ballistic missile during a recent attack on a Ukrainian steel plant in Zaporizhzhia, marking Russia's first use of North Korean assistance in a military operation.

Zelensky emphasized that Russia now relies on North Korean reinforcements and has received additional ballistic missiles from North Korea. He warned that these developments heighten the danger for Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and other regional nations.