North Korea launched a ballistic missile from its east coast in an easterly direction toward the sea, the South Korean armed forces announced.
“Our military detected at 06:00 (local time; midnight Cyprus time) a ballistic missile launched by North Korea from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea,” said the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, using the Korean name for what Tokyo calls the Sea of Japan.
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“Our military is stepping up its vigilance and surveillance in anticipation of possible additional launches,” the General Staff added, clarifying that Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington are sharing information about the test.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense reported via social media that the projectile, which it said appeared to be a ballistic missile, had already fallen into the sea, without providing further details.
The launch followed that of a short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Thursday, amid escalating tensions between Tokyo and Pyongyang. North Korea accuses Japan, which is steadily increasing its military spending, of turning into a “warmongering state.”
The missile was launched from the same location, according to the South Korean military. The Japanese Ministry of Defense, for its part, reported that it was a ballistic missile.
Today’s missile test took place as South Korea and the U.S. are expected to conduct their annual military exercises in August against the backdrop of threats from North Korea, a country that possesses nuclear weapons.
Pyongyang consistently and strongly criticizes such exercises, which it views as rehearsals for an invasion of its territory.
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