[2nd Report] North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile into East Sea

North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea on the 13th. This is the first time in 17 days since the short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launch on the 27th of last month, which exploded in mid-air at an altitude of 500 meters. This marks the ninth ballistic missile provocation this year.

North Korea had not responded to regular calls through the inter-Korean joint liaison office and the West and East Sea military communication lines since the 7th, before carrying out the provocation.

This provocation occurred two days after North Korean media reported on the 11th that Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, presided over the 6th expanded meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party, emphasizing the "need to further offensively expand and effectively operate war deterrence." At the meeting, Kim Jong-un appeared to give instructions by pointing with his finger at the US military base in Pyeongtaek and other major targets in the South on an 'operational map.'

North Korea publicly revealed the tactical nuclear warhead 'Hwasan-31' in a report on the 28th of last month, and on the 8th of this month, reported an underwater explosion test of the underwater nuclear unmanned attack vessel 'Haeil-2.' These displays of weapon systems have been ongoing as a show of force.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.