South Korea reportedly detected North Korea’s missile launch as the latest in a series of weapons tests by the isolated nation, according to Fox News.
South Korean officials reported on Friday that North Korea had launched a short-range ballistic missile in its direction.
The launch is the most recent of the isolated country’s succession of weapons tests, which Seoul interprets as intimidation and a buildup to a potential invasion effort.
Additionally, it occurred as South Korea completed joint military drills with an unknown number of American troops ahead of extensive joint drills with the US, which the north has deemed dangerous.
Four days prior, the north and south fired warning shots at one another while claiming to have crossed maritime borders.
Missile launch
The missile, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, was fired from the southern bordering province of Gangwon in North Korea.
The missile test has not been acknowledged by North Korean media.
“We are aware of the ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a Thursday night East Coast Time statement.
“While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies, the missile launches highlight the destabilizing impact of the DPRK’s unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs,” the statement said.
“Ironclad”
The United States’ “commitments” to South Korea and Japan are still “ironclad,” it was emphasized.
In the upcoming weeks, North Korea is also anticipated to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017.
The International Atomic Energy Agency described the test preparation signs it has observed as “incredibly concerning.”