North Korea fired an unidentified projectile towards the Sea of Japan on Saturday, South Korea’s defence ministry said, raising fresh concerns over military activity on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch heading towards waters that Seoul calls the East Sea. Officials did not immediately provide details about the type of projectile, its range or where it landed.
The latest launch comes after North Korea fired a barrage of missiles into the sea on August 20. That earlier launch took place as South Korea and the United States were conducting their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises.
North Korea has long criticised joint US-South Korea military drills, describing them as preparations for a possible invasion. Pyongyang has frequently responded to such exercises with missile tests.
The latest development also comes amid renewed discussion about possible talks between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump had said in August that he hoped to meet Kim later this year and stressed the importance of maintaining a relationship with the North Korean leader.
Trump also claimed that North Korea possessed 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons. The statement was unusual because the size of Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal is considered sensitive information. South Korean estimates suggest North Korea may possess around 80 to 120 nuclear weapons.
Following Trump’s remarks in August, North Korea launched more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area towards the Sea of Japan, according to South Korean officials.
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong Un, later criticised the US-South Korea military exercises. She described Seoul’s security approach as unrealistic and accused South Korea of maintaining a “master-and-servant” relationship with Washington.
The latest launch could further complicate efforts to revive diplomatic engagement between Washington and Pyongyang. North Korea has continued developing its missile and nuclear capabilities while rejecting what it views as hostile military pressure from the United States and South Korea.
South Korean authorities are analysing the latest launch to determine exactly what type of projectile was fired and its technical characteristics. Further details are expected as military officials assess the incident.
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