North Korea launched a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking the second such test in less than a week and coming two days after Washington and Seoul announced joint military drills set to begin on August 17.
North Korea fires ballistic missile toward Japan days before US-South Korea military drills
North Korea launched a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking the second such test in less than a week and coming two days after Washington and Seoul announced joint military drills set to begin on August 17.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was detected at around 6:00 a.m. local time (2100 GMT Tuesday) and was launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea. The missile was estimated to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan. No damage was reported.
Details of the launch were under joint analysis by Japan, the United States, and South Korea. Japan's prime minister issued instructions to maintain a complete state of readiness.
The launch came two days after South Korea and the United States announced their annual joint military drills, scheduled to begin on August 17. These exercises are described as a regular summer feature designed to coordinate defense against North Korea.
North Korea has previously condemned the joint drills on multiple occasions and has often conducted missile tests before and after the exercises. After last year's drills began, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un characterized the exercise as more provocative than before and said it reflected Seoul and Washington's 'will to ignite a war,' adding that it had prompted North Korea to respond with 'proactive and overwhelming' countermeasures.
On August 6, the United States, South Korea, and Japan detected the launch of a short-range ballistic missile from North Korea, its first ballistic weapons test since late June. Pyongyang did not initially confirm that launch, though it typically releases details of tests a day later.
- North Korea had not confirmed the Wednesday launch at the time of the report.
- The specific type or range classification of the missile launched on Wednesday was not established.
- The official positions of the United States government regarding the Wednesday launch are not included.
- It is not stated whether North Korea provided any formal or public explanation for the timing of the launch.
- France 24 — original — by https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
- Deutsche Welle — by Mahima Kapoor
- Al Jazeera English — by Adam Hancock
Read the original at France 24