South Korea reported that North Korea launched a ballistic missile today, Sunday, just days after Pyongyang conducted live-fire exercises near the maritime border between the two countries.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul stated in a communique that “North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile towards the East Sea,” also known as the Sea of Japan.
The Japanese Coast Guard noted that a projectile, believed to be a North Korean missile, did indeed fall and added that it may be a ballistic missile.
In December of the previous year, North Korea said it had tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile to assess the war readiness of its nuclear forces against “escalating American hostility,” while Washington and its allies activated an immediate missile data exchange system.
North Korea’s most recent missile test occurred on December 18th when it launched an intercontinental ballistic missile of the “Hwasong-18” type, solid-fuel-powered, towards the east.
Relations between the two Koreas have deteriorated since leader Kim Jong-un committed to enhancing his country’s position as a nuclear power, resuming advanced intercontinental ballistic missile tests.
