North Korea launched another ballistic missile on Tuesday, marking its second reported launch in less than a week. According to Japan's prime minister's office, the latest launch was announced on Tuesday.
Details about the missile's trajectory, range and where it landed are not immediately available. The US military stated that it is monitoring the situation and consulting with allies and partners in the region. In a statement, the US Pacific Command said that based on current assessments, these events do not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to its allies.
The latest launch comes just days after North Korea test-fired a short-range ballistic missile from its eastern Wonsan area on August 5. That missile landed in waters off North Korea's east coast and did not reach Japanese territory. Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that North Korea's repeated missile launches pose a threat to Japan and the region, and Tokyo lodged a protest with Pyongyang through their embassies in Beijing.
South Korea's military has bolstered its surveillance posture and coordinated with the US and Japan following the August 5 launch. South Korea's presidential national security council called that launch "a provocation" that violated UN Security Council resolutions and urged North Korea to stop its missile activity. The launches come ahead of annual joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, which are typically held during the second half of August.
The US and South Korean officials have said that the upcoming military drills are defensive in nature, while North Korea has characterized them as preparation for an invasion and has often responded to military drills with missile tests.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
View original reporting →
