North Korea fires ballistic missile toward East Sea ahead of US-SK drills

North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday morning, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported. The missile was detected launching from the Wonsan area on the country's eastern coast around 6 a.m. and traveled more than 700 kilometers.

South Korean and US intelligence authorities are collaborating to conduct a detailed analysis of the missile's exact specifications. Information has been shared between the two nations and Japan since the early stages of the launch, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This latest launch follows North Korea's previous ballistic missile test on August 6, where a short-range ballistic missile was fired. The timing of Wednesday's launch is significant as it occurs just six days before the scheduled commencement of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise between the US and South Korea.

North Korea has previously expressed strong condemnation of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, characterizing it as a rehearsal for war. The exercise is slated to begin on Monday.

“

South Korean and US intelligence authorities have been sharing relevant information since the early stages of the launch.