North Korea fired aโ ballistic missile Thursday, โฃprompting condemnationโ from South Korea and Japan, officials said. the launch, detected by both nations’ militaries, marks the latest in a series of increasingly frequent weapons testsโ by Pyongyang this year, raising regional tensions and concernsโ about potential escalation.
The missile launch underscores North korea’s continued pursuit of advanced weapons capabilities despite international sanctions and diplomatic efforts. These tests are widely โseen as a means of pressuring โthe United States and South Korea, while simultaneously advancing Pyongyang’s arsenal ahead of potential future negotiations. โThe incident comes amidโ stalled denuclearizationโ talks and heightened military activity in the region, fueling anxieties about โa โขpossible return to a period of heightened โคconfrontationโข on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s Joint โฃChiefsโข of Staff reported the missile was launched eastward from theโ Sunan area near pyongyang around โ10:17 a.m. local time. Japan’s Defense Ministry confirmed the launch, stating the missile reached โฃan โaltitude of approximately 600 kilometers (373 miles) and flew a distance of around 400 kilometersโฃ (248 miles) before landing in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
Officials in both Seoul and Tokyo condemned the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol convened a National Security Council meeting โฃto discuss the situation, and Japan’s Prime minister fumio Kishida instructed officials to closely monitor โfurtherโ developments. the โUnited States Indo-Pacific Command stated it was aware of the launch and was assessing the potential impact, reaffirmingโ its commitment to defending Japan and South Korea.
North Korea has conducted a flurry of missile tests this year,including the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile โ(ICBM) in March,its first full-range ICBM test โsince 2017. Experts believe โคthe country is continuing toโ develop its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of international โpressure, aiming to achieve a credible nuclear deterrent.