North Korea has conducted a ballistic missile test towards the sea, according to reports from neighboring countries. This marks the second missile test by North Korea within a week. The launch is seen as a likely response to the forthcoming joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the missile launch from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast. The missile headed towards the eastern waters of North Korea at about 6 a.m. South Korea has heightened its surveillance and is collaborating closely with the United States and Japan to monitor the situation.
Japan’s Defense Ministry also detected the missile launch. However, it indicated that the missile did not fall within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, suggesting a trajectory further from the Japanese coast.
The timing of the missile launch coincides with the planned start of annual large-scale military drills between South Korea and the United States. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will begin on Monday and last for 11 days. Approximately 18,000 South Korean soldiers are set to participate, mirroring the scale of previous years. The exercises aim to enhance readiness against potential North Korean threats.
North Korea has historically reacted to these military drills with weapons tests and aggressive rhetoric. The country views these exercises as rehearsals for invasion, prompting it to enhance its nuclear capabilities. Nonetheless, both the United States and South Korea maintain that their training activities are purely defensive.
On August 6, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan identified a short-range ballistic missile launch from North Korea, marking the first such activity since June. While North Korea has not acknowledged this missile test, it typically releases statements about its weapons tests the day after they occur.
The escalation of missile tests by North Korea comes after unsuccessful diplomatic engagements between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump. These discussions, stalled since 2019, revolved around disagreements concerning international sanctions on North Korea.