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North Korea launches ballistic missile from eastern coast
North Korea fired one ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday morning from an area near Wonsan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The JCS said the missile was detected at around 6:30 a.m. and traveled more than 700 kilometers. South Korean and U.S. authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of its specifications.
The JCS said South Korea, the United States and Japan are closely sharing information related to the launch while maintaining readiness for any additional activity.
Japan estimates flight path as analysts examine missile type
Japan’s Defense Ministry separately estimated that the missile reached a maximum altitude of about 90 kilometers and traveled roughly 680 kilometers before landing outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The reported distance falls within the range commonly associated with short-range ballistic missiles, but South Korean military officials did not classify the launch as a short-range missile. They are examining the possibility that North Korea may have launched a medium-range ballistic missile with a reduced flight distance.
North Korean official media reported that Kim Yo Jong, a senior Workers’ Party official and the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, described the launch as a strategic weapons training exercise involving an intermediate-range strategic missile. She said Kim Jong Un observed the event.
Kim Yo Jong also claimed the missile used a wave-like flight path and had the ability to change its trajectory at low altitude. Those comments led to speculation that the missile could be related to the Hwasong-16na hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile system, which is believed to have maneuvering capabilities. North Korea did not disclose the actual distance the missile traveled.
Launch follows recent missile activity and heightened tensions
The launch was North Korea’s 15th ballistic missile test of the year, according to the South Korean government. It came 13 days after North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area on Sept. 20, which Pyongyang later described as a performance test of an improved hypersonic missile called the Hwasong-11ma.
South Korean officials also noted similarities with a launch on Aug. 12, when a missile fired from the Wonsan area traveled more than 700 kilometers. At the time, officials said they were considering whether it could have involved a medium-range missile fired on a shortened trajectory.
South Korea holds security meeting and calls for halt
South Korea’s National Security Office convened an emergency security meeting after the launch, with officials from the Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff attending. The office said officials reviewed the response situation, assessed the impact on national security and ordered necessary measures.
South Korea urged North Korea to immediately stop what it called repeated ballistic missile launches, saying such actions violate United Nations Security Council resolutions and do not help manage the current situation.
The launch came three days after South Korea demanded an apology and responsible measures from North Korea over a land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers. North Korea has denied involvement, with Kim Yo Jong calling South Korean military claims a fabrication. She also rejected recent South Korean proposals for dialogue, calling them unacceptable.
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