Wonsan:North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the East Sea on Saturday, according to South Korea's military, following Pyongyang's denial of involvement in a recent mine blast along the inter-Korean border.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the missile launch at approximately 630 a.m. from the Wonsan area. South Korea has since heightened surveillance for possible additional launches and is coordinating with the United States and Japan to maintain readiness.
The missile launch comes amid rising tensions between the two Koreas after North Korean land mines exploded in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 21, injuring three South Korean soldiers, two seriously. South Korea has accused the North of violating the armistice agreement and has demanded an apology, urging Pyongyang to stop fortifying the border.
North Korea, through a statement by Kim Yo-jong, sister of its leader Kim Jong-un, denied responsibility for the mine blast, accusing South Korea of fabricating evidence and threatening retaliation if Seoul takes action. Kim criticized South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's efforts to reduce military tensions, dismissing them as a farce, and rejected Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's call for dialogue on the Military Demarcation Line issue.
This missile launch follows a previous incident on September 20, when North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the same area towards the East Sea.