North Korea fires ballistic missile as warning ahead of U.S.-South Korea military drills
North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile toward the East Sea on August 12 in a move seen as a protest against an upcoming combined military exercise between South Korea and the United States, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
On August 12, North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap. The missile was fired from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan and was detected at around 6 a.m. local time. Seoul promptly increased surveillance and vigilance measures in response to the launch, alerting the U.S. and Japan of the situation.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea emphasized that all three nations maintain a state of high readiness, closely sharing information about North Korea's ballistic missile activity.
This launch occurred six days after another missile test on August 6, when North Korea fired a short-range missile toward the East Sea. Pyongyang has vehemently condemned the upcoming joint military drills between South Korea and the United States, labeling them as "war rehearsals." In a show of defiance, North Korea proceeded with its own weapons tests during the training period.
North Korea has a history of conducting similar missile tests. In May, it tested tactical ballistic missiles, rocket artillery systems, and AI-powered precision-guided cruise missiles, with Leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing these demonstrations. In a recent announcement on May 18, Kim emphasized the strengthening of military units and the establishment of an "impenetrable fortress" along North Korea's border with South Korea, further asserting the regime's readiness for modern warfare.
Additionally, North Korea launched several ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on April 19, prompting joint monitoring efforts between Seoul, the U.S., and Japan.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
