North Korea fires unidentified ballistic missile in Sea of Japan
Seoul Feb 18 (EFE).- North Korea on Saturday fired an unidentified ballistic missile in the Sea of Japan – called the East Sea in the two Koreas – the South Korean military said in a statement.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff did not offer further details about the launch, the second carried out by Pyongyang in 2023.
The Japanese coast guard said the launch took place at 5.25 pm, citing information provided by the defense ministry.
Soon after, Japanese news agency Kyodo cited government sources to report that it consisted of an unspecified type of ballistic missile.
On Friday, North Korea had threatened an “unprecedented” response to the joint military exercises that Seoul and Washington are set to carry out in March.
The United States and South Korea are also scheduled to hold a joint computer simulation drill next week to prepare for a potential nuclear attack by Pyongyang.
In 2022, North Korea test-fired a record number of missiles – around 50 – often in response to joint military drills by the US and South Korea and after Pentagon deployed strategic assets in the peninsula.
Satellite photos have shown that the regime’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site has been fully refurbished for almost year and is ready for a fresh atomic test. EFE
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