North Korea Conducts Fresh Missile Launch From Eastern Port, South Korea Says

North Korea has fired at least one ballistic missile towards the sea off its eastern coast, according to South Korea’s military.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the port city of Wonsan on Saturday and travelled more than 700 kilometres (435 miles).

Following the launch, South Korea’s presidential national security office held an emergency meeting to assess the situation. The military also raised its alert level for possible additional launches and said it would share intelligence with the United States and Japan.

Japan issued an emergency alert, stating that North Korea had launched a suspected ballistic missile.

The US Pacific Command said it was aware of the launch and was consulting with its allies and partners. It said its initial assessment indicated that the launch did not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory or to its allies.

The missile launch came a day after Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, criticised South Korea’s demand for an apology over recent landmine explosions near the inter-Korean border.

South Korea and the United Nations Command have said the explosions were caused by North Korean mines planted south of the Military Demarcation Line. Three South Korean soldiers were seriously injured in the blasts while carrying out a reconnaissance mission inside the demilitarised zone.

South Korea has also urged North Korea to stop strengthening its border through the installation of mines and anti-tank barriers.

Kim Yo Jong dismissed Seoul’s demands as “utterly pathetic” and said North Korea intended to permanently cut ties with South Korea.

Saturday’s missile launch is the latest in a series of North Korean military activities in recent weeks, including tests of a purported hypersonic missile system, live-fire exercises and the commissioning of a new warship.

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