North Korea has fired at least one ballistic missile towards its eastern waters, according to South Korea's military. The launch adds to a series of weapons demonstrations by North Korea that have heightened tensions in the region. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately provide further details on the missile launch.
Japan's coast guard issued a maritime safety advisory following the launch, indicating that North Korea had launched a possible ballistic missile. The coast guard later reported that the suspected missile had likely already landed, but cautioned ships to be vigilant for any fallen objects. Fortunately, there have been no reports of damage resulting from the missile launch.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been escalating in recent months due to the increased pace of North Korea's weapons testing and South Korea's military exercises with the United States and Japan. This pattern of actions has created a cycle of tit-for-tat provocations between the two Koreas.
The missile launch on Thursday followed North Korea's release of hundreds of balloons carrying trash towards South Korea as a response to South Korean activists flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. Additionally, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued warnings of 'overwhelming actions' against South Korea in retaliation for military exercises conducted near the inter-Korean border.
This year, North Korea has conducted tests of various cruise missiles, artillery systems, and a solid-fuel intermediate-range missile with hypersonic warhead capabilities. Experts believe that this missile is designed to target remote U.S. locations in the Pacific, such as the military base in Guam.
