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SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea on Wednesday, marking its second weapons test in less than a week, according to regional officials.
The missile launch appears to be a response to the upcoming joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, which North Korea views as provocative rehearsals for invasion.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported detecting the launch from North Korea’s eastern Wonsan area around 6 a.m., with the missile heading toward the country’s eastern waters. In response, South Korea heightened its surveillance efforts and is closely coordinating with U.S. and Japanese counterparts to monitor the situation.
Japan’s Defense Ministry also confirmed detecting a suspected ballistic missile launch but noted the projectile did not enter Japan’s exclusive economic zone, indicating it fell farther offshore.
This launch comes just two days after South Korea and the U.S. announced plans to begin their annual large-scale Ulchi Freedom Shield military drills next week. The 11-day exercise will involve approximately 18,000 South Korean troops and aims to enhance readiness against potential North Korean threats.
North Korea has historically reacted to these joint drills with weapons tests and strong rhetoric, condemning the exercises as rehearsals for invasion. Pyongyang argues that such activities force it to strengthen its nuclear capabilities, while Seoul and Washington maintain the drills are purely defensive.
Earlier this month, on August 6, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan detected North Korea’s first ballistic missile test since June, although Pyongyang did not officially confirm that launch.
Since the breakdown of diplomatic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019-largely over disputes related to international sanctions-North Korea has frequently conducted weapons tests, signaling ongoing tensions in the region.