North Korea launches 'suspected ballistic missile' into East Sea

North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile into the East Sea on Sunday, according to Japan's Prime Minister's office. South Korea's military reported that Pyongyang had fired an unidentified projectile into the East Sea. This comes after North Korea rejected a UN nuclear watchdog resolution against its nuclear program, stating that the resolution had no effect on their status as a nuclear weapons state.

In August, former US President Donald Trump claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un possessed 57 very powerful nuclear weapons, praising their relationship. Trump also mentioned his intention to meet with Kim later this year, though no further details were provided. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged Trump to maintain dialogue with Pyongyang and stated that Seoul was working to facilitate talks between the two nations.

However, Kim Yo Jong, sister of Kim Jong-un, criticized recent military drills in the Western Pacific, calling them a "US-led war rehearsal." The US, South Korea, and Japan concluded Exercise Freedom Edge 26, which advanced trilateral readiness across the Indo-Pacific, on September 11. Kim Yo Jong emphasized that North Korea's will to defend its sovereignty would result in intensified nuclear war deterrence.