North Korea launched another ballistic missile toward the sea on Wednesday, marking its second such test within less than a week. The launch came just days before the United States and South Korea are scheduled to begin their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast at around 6 a.m. local time. It travelled toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, before falling into the waters. Japanese authorities said the missile landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, with no immediate reports of damage.
The latest launch is widely being viewed as a signal from Pyongyang ahead of the annual US-South Korea military drills, which are scheduled to begin on August 17. North Korea has repeatedly criticised such exercises, describing them as preparations for an attack, while Seoul and Washington maintain that the drills are defensive in nature.
The launch also comes amid growing attention to North Korea’s military relationship with Russia and its efforts to strengthen strategic ties with other major powers. Pyongyang has continued expanding its missile capabilities despite United Nations sanctions and international pressure.
For Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, the latest test is another reminder of the continuing security threat posed by North Korea’s weapons programmes. Regional authorities are now closely monitoring Pyongyang for any further military activity as the joint exercises approach.
