A North Korean Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). (File photo)
North Korea fires ballistic missile over East Sea: Seoul
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North Korea launched a ballistic missile from its eastern coast toward the Sea of Japan early Wednesday, South Korea’s military said.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a message to reporters that the military detected a ballistic missile launched by North Korea from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, the Korean name for the Sea of Japan, at around 6 a.m. (2100 GMT).
Japan’s Defense Ministry said on social media that the ballistic missile had fallen, without providing further details.
South Korea and the United States are scheduled to begin an 11-day joint military exercise on Monday.
The drills are part of their regular summer training schedule and are intended to strengthen defensive readiness against nuclear-armed North Korea.
Pyongyang opposes the exercises, calling them invasion drills. North Korea has previously carried out missile tests deliberately before and after the joint exercises.
