North Korea Launches Unidentified Projectile Toward East Coast Sea
Pyongyang conducted a fresh weapons test off its eastern coast following a formal declaration that severed diplomatic engagement with South Korea.
North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the sea off its east coast on Saturday morning, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
South Korean military officials detected the launch but did not immediately disclose the projectile type, flight distance or launch site. The South Korean military said it maintains heightened surveillance and shares tracking data with allies in the United States and Japan.
The firing occurred less than two weeks after Pyongyang carried out its previous weapons test. On Sept. 20, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles from the eastern coastal Wonsan area into the sea. Those missiles flew about 450 kilometers and more than 600 kilometers, respectively.
If military analysts confirm the latest launch involved a ballistic missile, it would represent the 15th ballistic missile test conducted by Pyongyang this year. United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from conducting any launches using ballistic missile technology.
The launch followed renewed political friction across the peninsula. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a statement on Friday emphasizing a complete break in relations with Seoul. She said border fortification work aimed to cut off ties between the two countries permanently.
Regional allies are now examining the flight path and technical specifications to determine the exact nature of the projectile.
