North Korea has launched an “unidentified projectile,” South Korea’s armed forces announced on Sunday, breaking a month-long launch-free period that coincided with the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of the Republic of Korea said in a statement that North Korea fired an unidentified projectile eastward, but did not give further details, Belga News Agency reports.
“Currently, our military is keeping close tabs on the possibility of additional launches and maintaining a position of readiness,” JCS said.
Pyongyang conducted an unprecedented series of seven missile launches in January, including its most powerful one since 2017. It also warned that it could end a self-imposed moratorium on intercontinental ballistic missile tests and nuclear tests.
However, North Korea suspended the tests during the 2022 Winter Olympics, possibly out of respect for its Chinese ally, according to experts.
The new show of force from Pyongyang comes at a sensitive time in the region, with South Korea preparing to elect its next president on 9 March.
Analysts predict it is possible Pyongyang could use the 110th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, on 15 April, to conduct a highly important arms test.
