North Korea fired a suspected short-range ballistic missile toward its eastern waters on Friday, the latest in a series of weapons tests amid escalating tensions with Washington and Seoul, South Korea’s military said.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul, the missile was launched from an inland area near Taekwan County and traveled roughly 700 kilometers (434 miles) before falling into the sea. South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed they had tracked the launch preparations and were continuing to analyze the flight data.
In response, South Korea said it had boosted surveillance and readiness while maintaining close coordination with the United States and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also confirmed that the projectile landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, causing no damage or casualties.
The launch adds to a flurry of recent weapons tests by Pyongyang, including those involving claimed hypersonic and cruise missiles. Earlier this week, South Korea reported that the North had fired 10 rounds of artillery into its western waters an action that coincided with a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The latest test also came shortly after a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Gyeongju, where President Lee urged Beijing to take a more active role in facilitating dialogue with Pyongyang.
During annual defense talks on Tuesday, Secretary Hegseth praised Seoul’s plans to expand military spending in response to North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threats.
Since the collapse of nuclear negotiations with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rejected engagement with both Washington and Seoul. Instead, he has accelerated the country’s weapons programs and strengthened military ties with Russia, reportedly supplying troops and arms to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
At a military parade in Pyongyang last month, attended by officials from Russia, China, and Vietnam, Kim showcased new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and advanced weapons systems, signaling preparations for further tests.
Just a day before the latest launch, Pyongyang denounced new U.S. sanctions targeting cyber activities allegedly funding its nuclear program, accusing Washington of “wicked hostility” and vowing retaliation.
Analysts said the statement underscores North Korea’s continued defiance and suggests little prospect of renewed dialogue with the United States in the near future.
