North Korea fires intermediate-range ballistic missile, says Seoul's military

Days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the borderline with South Korea, Seaoul military alleged that North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday.

In a statement, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "Our military detected one suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea around at 14:55."

However, the statement didn't give further details, adding that officials in Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo were analyzing the situation.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "Our military maintains full readiness by closely sharing information related to the launched 'North Korean missile' with the US and Japan."

Japan confirms

On the other hand, Japan's coast guard also confirmed a suspected missile launch by Kim John Un's North Korea, on the basis of information from Japan's defense ministry, and issued warnings to vessels to take care.

Instructions by the Prime Minister in Response to the Missile Launch by North Korea (14:58)#DiplomacySecurity #NKmissilehttps://t.co/IgcJpeQekg

— PM's Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) January 14, 2024

North Korea's ballistic missile launch

North Korea's tested its last missile on December 18. It was fired from the East Sea on December 18 and the test was of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile test comes days after North Korea conducted a series of live wire drills near the borders with South Korea, which prompted the counter exercise from the South island nation.

Earlier this week, Leader Kim Jong Un also branded Seoul his 'principal enemy' and issued a warning that he would not hesitate to annihilate the South.

On Wednesday, Kim said, "The historic time has come at last when we should define as a state most hostile toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea the entity called the Republic of Korea (South Korea)."

Rise in tensions

After Kim Jong Un test-fired several intercontinental ballistic missiles, the diplomatic relations between the two island nations are at their lowest points in decades. 

The United Nations Security Council has introduced many resolutions asking North Korea to halt its all nuclear and ballistic missile programs.