North Korea launched at least one unidentified ballistic missile on Saturday, South Korea’s military announced ahead of joint military drills by Washington and Seoul to be held next week.
Military intelligence report that the intercontinental missile travelled a distance of 900 km and reached an altitude of 5,700 km before landing in Japanese waters.
“North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile towards (the) East Sea,” the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the name given to the Sea of Japan. Tokyo also confirmed the launch, with its defence ministry saying Pyongyang had launched a “possible ballistic missile” without giving further details.
The launch comes as the two allies prepare for simulation exercises, to be held next week in Washington, to discuss what to do if Pyongyang uses nuclear weapons.
North Korea threatened on Friday to respond with “unprecedented” force to the upcoming US-South Korean manoeuvres, seeing them as preparations for an armed conflict.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office in May 2022 promising to take a tough line with Pyongyang, has dramatically stepped up drills with the United States, which were greatly reduced during the pandemic.
