Seoul: South Korea announced on Monday that it is maintaining close coordination with the United States regarding North Korea's missile launches. This statement comes amid criticism over South Korea's delayed announcement of the North's most recent missile launch.

According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea's state media reported on Friday that the country conducted tests of a new multiple rocket launcher and other key weapons the previous day, with leader Kim Jong-un overseeing the launch. However, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) did not disclose details of the launch on the day of the test-firing. This has led to questions about whether the information was withheld or if there was a failure to detect the launch in a timely manner.

A local media outlet suggested that the U.S.'s decision to limit information-sharing with South Korea on North Korea's military activities may have affected Seoul's ability to track these events in real time. Col. Lee Kyung-ho, deputy defense ministry spokesperson, addressed the issue in a press briefing, stating that South Korea and the U.S. detected and tracked multiple projectiles launched by North Korea on June 25, maintaining close coordination throughout.

Col. Lee explained that the projectiles are classified as "tactical weapons systems" and that detailed specifications will be determined following a comprehensive analysis. He emphasized that the bilateral information-sharing and coordination mechanism with the U.S. remains seamless and that the military maintains a 24-hour readiness posture.

He also urged the public not to undermine the dedication of South Korean and U.S. service members, who work to defend the Republic of Korea and ensure the safety of its citizens, through political interpretations. The JCS typically discloses North Korea's missile launches when they involve test-firing of ballistic missiles in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

North Korea's latest tests reportedly involved an upgraded version of a 240mm-caliber 24-tubular multiple rocket launcher system, special mission warheads for tactical ballistic missiles, and extended-range shells for a 155mm self-propelled howitzer, as reported by North Korea's state media.