According to reports from Japan’s Coast Guard and the South Korean military, North Korea launched a ballistic missile of unspecified type on Sunday.
The missile was directed towards the sea off North Korea’s east coast, as stated by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Additional details about the launch have not been immediately provided.
This launch follows warnings from officials in Seoul and Tokyo indicating that nuclear-armed North Korea was preparing to conduct a missile test, potentially involving one of its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) this month.
All of North Korea’s ballistic missile activities are in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, even though Pyongyang argues that they are legitimate acts of self defense.
Reporting for this article was contributed by Mariko Katsumura in Tokyo and Josh Smith in Seoul, with editing by Alison Williams.
