North Korea launches unidentified projectile toward East Sea: South Korea
Japan's Defense Ministry says Pyongyang appeared to have launched ballistic missile
South Korea's military said Thursday that North Korea launched an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch, without providing further details.
Japan's Defense Ministry later said through US social media platform X that North Korea appeared to have launched a ballistic missile.
There has been no impact on the surrounding areas of Japan, it added.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed officials to gather and analyze information, confirm the safety of aircraft and ships, and take all possible measures to prepare for unforeseen situations.
South Korea labeled Pyongyang's launch a "provocation" that violates UN Security Council resolutions and demanded its "immediate" cessastation.
The presidential national security office immediately convened a meeting attended by officials from the Defense Ministry and the JCS to instruct them to maintain an alert response posture and assess the impact of the launch on Seoul's national security.
Thursday's launch came ahead of South Korea's annual summertime joint military exercise with the US, Ulchi Freedom Shield, which is expected later this month.
North Korea last conducted the test of a tactical ballistic missile, as well as new multiple rocket launchers and other weapons, on June 25.
