SEOUL — North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward waters off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea and Japan said, days before the United States and South Korea are due to begin their annual joint military exercises.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch from the Wonsan area on North Korea's east coast, according to reports. The missile flew about 700 km before falling into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to South Korean and Japanese authorities. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The launch came less than a week after North Korea conducted another weapons test and ahead of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which are scheduled to begin on Aug. 17 and run through Aug. 27. The annual drills combine computer-based command exercises with field training and are intended to strengthen the allies' ability to respond to security threats.
South Korea condemned the launch and said its military was maintaining readiness while closely monitoring North Korean activities. Japan also protested the launch, with Tokyo treating the projectile as a possible ballistic missile.
The United States Indo-Pacific Command said the launch did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory or allies, while reaffirming Washington's security commitments in the region, according to Reuters.
The missile launch was the latest in a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang as it continues to develop its ballistic missile capabilities. Reuters reported that the projectile was North Korea's 11th suspected missile test of the year. Analysts said further assessment would be needed to determine the missile's precise type and capabilities.
Pyongyang has long condemned U.S.-South Korean military exercises as preparations for an invasion, while Washington and Seoul describe the drills as defensive and necessary to maintain military readiness. The allies' annual exercises have frequently coincided with heightened military activity by North Korea.
The latest launch follows a reported projectile test on Aug. 6 that appeared to have failed shortly after launch, according to South Korean assessments cited by Reuters.
South Korean and U.S. forces were continuing preparations for Ulchi Freedom Shield, with authorities monitoring North Korean military activity ahead of the scheduled start of the exercises.
