North Korea fires ballistic missile into East Sea

North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea from the vicinity of Wonsan on the morning of August 12, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The JCS stated that they detected the missile launch and are maintaining a heightened state of surveillance and readiness, in close cooperation with the United States and Japan. This marks the second ballistic missile test by North Korea in just six days, with the previous launch occurring on August 6.

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We have captured a ballistic missile launched by North Korea into the East Sea from the Wonsan area around 6 a.m. today.

The timing of this latest launch is significant, as it precedes the commencement of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' on August 17. North Korea has previously expressed strong opposition to these drills, often referring to them as war preparations. Therefore, this missile firing is widely seen as a potential retaliatory measure against the upcoming exercises.

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We are maintaining a heightened state of surveillance and readiness, with the ROK, U.S., and Japan closely sharing information regarding North Korea's ballistic missile and maintaining full preparedness.