In Pyongyang’s second missile launch in two months, North Korea fired what appears to be an intermediate collection ballistic missile toward the water to its west, according to South Korea’s defense.
Japan’s defence ministry said around noon local time ( 03: 00 GMT ) that the projectile had already fallen into the sea.
The release occurs as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with some of South Korea’s top leaders in Seoul for deals.
Blinken met with acting president Choi Sang-mok earlier on Monday, where he described the relationship between Washington and Seoul as a” basis of peace and stability on the Vietnamese peninsula.”
South Korea’s government says it has strengthened security for the North’s potential missile launch and is” carefully sharing info” on today’s release with the US and Japan.
Today’s launch also comes amid political chaos in South Korea, which has embroiled the country for weeks after suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law attempt in December.
Yoon, who was removed from office after legislators voted to remove him from office, is currently facing imprisonment. Additionally, the legal court is weighing his removal from office.
Pyongyang previously mocked Yoon’s shock martial law declaration as an “insane act” and accused Yoon of “brazenly brandishing blades and guns of fascist dictatorship at his own people”.
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, is viewed as a tyrant by the global community. Kim’s community has for centuries fostered a cult of personality and has continued to rule the hermitic land.
Pyongyang next launched a number of short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast in November, one day before the US national vote.
Kim’s girl Kim Yo Jong objected to the US’s use of a long-range bomber before that year during multilateral military drills with South Korea and Japan in a display of strength.