Seoul: North Korea fired one short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's military reported. This launch comes just days after North Korea vowed to take "responsive action" against ongoing U.S.-led military exercises in the region.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the missile launch at approximately 3:00 p.m. from the Wonsan area. The JCS emphasized that they have increased surveillance and vigilance for potential additional launches and are maintaining full readiness, closely sharing information with the United States and Japan regarding the incident.
This recent launch follows a similar event about a week prior, when North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles from the same region toward the East Sea on September 12. In a subsequent media dispatch, North Korea announced that it had conducted a firepower strike drill with artillery and missile units, showcasing new combat systems like attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, large-caliber multiple rocket launchers, and tactical ballistic missiles.
The escalation in North Korean missile activities coincides with heightened criticism from Pyongyang regarding key regional military exercises involving South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, criticized the U.S.-led multinational Pacific Vanguard maritime drills, pledging a proportional or more aggressive response.
North Korea has consistently condemned these allied drills, labeling them as rehearsals for invasion. The country has also voiced opposition to the bilateral Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise between South Korea and the U.S., as well as the trilateral Freedom Edge drills involving Japan.
In response to the latest missile launch, South Korea's National Security Office (NSO) convened an emergency security meeting with the defense ministry and the JCS. The meeting focused on assessing the response posture, analyzing the impact of the missile launch on national security, and reviewing potential actions. The NSO urged North Korea to halt such military actions immediately, reiterating that ballistic missile launches violate U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting nuclear and missile development.
The previous missile launch involved Hwasong-11 series short-range ballistic missiles and rounds fired from 600-millimeter super-large multiple rocket launchers, further intensifying regional security concerns.