Seoul
03:20 KST
SEOUL – North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on Friday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, escalating regional tensions amid ongoing sanctions and diplomatic deadlock. The launch occurred at 12:35 p.m. local time from Daeguan in North Pyongan Province.
This missile test follows pyongyang’s condemnation of recent U.S. sanctions targeting eight individuals and two entities accused of involvement in cybercrime-related money laundering. North Korean officials have characterized the sanctions as evidence of continued U.S. hostility and vowed to respond with countermeasures. the missile traveled approximately 700 kilometers before impacting the sea, and South Korean and U.S. authorities are analyzing its specifications.
The launch underscores a persistent pattern of North Korean missile activity, marking the sixth such event this year. It also arrives shortly after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit hosted by South Korea and a visit from former U.S. President Donald Trump on October 22, when North Korea last launched a short-range ballistic missile. Intelligence agencies in South Korea,the United States,and Japan had detected preparations for the launch and were closely monitoring the situation,exchanging relevant data. the incident raises concerns about the potential for further escalation and the future of denuclearization talks.
