Early Wednesday morning, North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile, which appears to have ended in failure, according to the South Korean military. The missile was detected by Japan’s Defense Ministry, which reported that it splashed down just minutes after launch.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the missile was fired around 5:30 a.m. from the capital region towards the eastern waters. The missile, believed to be a short-range type, reportedly flew about 250 kilometers (155 miles) and reached an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) before failing. The suspected ballistic missile did not land within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from its coast.
The launch follows recent tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as North Korea had earlier criticized the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier for joint military drills with South Korea and Japan. North Korea had warned of a “new demonstration of deterrence” in response to these drills.
Reports suggest the missile tested might have been a developmental hypersonic missile, although the short flight duration implies it may have been a short-range missile. The South Korean military did not immediately explain why it believes the launch failed.
Japan’s coast guard confirmed the detection of the missile, noting that it had already fallen by the time they provided the information. The incident occurred a day after the 74th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, a date marked in North Korea with a mass rally denouncing the United States as the “arch enemy.”
The failed missile launch came in the wake of a strategic partnership treaty signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which includes a mutual defense pledge and significantly deepens military cooperation between the two nations. This partnership has been condemned by Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
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