North Korea fires second ballistic missile in a week ahead of US-South Korea war drills

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast on Wednesday, according to South Korean and Japanese authorities. This marks the country's second reported ballistic missile launch in under a week. The timing of the launch is significant, as it precedes major US-South Korea military exercises scheduled to begin on August 17.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the missile traveled over 700 km from the Wonsan area. Japan's defense ministry confirmed the launch, stating the missile landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The missile reached an altitude of approximately 90 km.

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It’s a serious problem that affects the safety of the Japanese people.

South Korea's National Security Council convened an emergency meeting, labeling North Korea's missile tests as provocative acts that violate UN Security Council resolutions. The military affirmed its readiness to respond to any provocations in coordination with the United States, with Reuters reporting a commitment to respond "overwhelmingly" if necessary. Japan also lodged a protest through diplomatic channels, with Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi calling the launch a "serious problem" affecting Japanese safety.

This latest launch follows a similar event on August 6, which was North Korea's first reported ballistic weapons test since late June. The ongoing weapons-testing program includes various missile types and tactical weapons tested throughout the year. Experts suggest North Korea often times its tests around US-South Korean military activities.

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It urged Pyongyang to stop activities that violate UN Security Council resolutions.