The launch came at a sensitive moment, as allied forces prepare for exercises Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned as a rehearsal for war.
North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on August 12. The launch took place ahead of the annual joint military exercises held by South Korea and the United States.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missile was launched at around 6:00 a.m. from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast.
According to a preliminary assessment by the South Korean military, the missile traveled more than 700 kilometers. South Korean and U.S. specialists are continuing to analyze the launch parameters and the missile’s technical characteristics.
What missile North Korea may have launched
The military did not identify the type of missile or disclose its exact range. However, the flight distance may indicate the use of a short-range ballistic missile capable of striking targets between 300 and 1,000 kilometers away.
North Korea’s arsenal includes KN-23 missiles, regarded as the North Korean equivalent of Russia’s Iskander missiles. Their maximum range is estimated at between 700 and 800 kilometers.
Launch ahead of U.S.-South Korean exercises
Next week, South Korea and the United States are set to begin their annual joint Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. Pyongyang has described these drills as a “rehearsal for war.” North Korea has previously responded to such exercises with missile launches and other weapons tests.
North Korea last launched a short-range ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on August 6. At the time, it fired at least one missile.