N. Korea test-fires ballistic missile in the East Sea

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan (the East Sea), the South Korean military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.

The Japanese Defense Ministry also confirmed this event, according to Kyodo News agency, adding that the projectile fell into waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

The missile, which flew over 650 kilometers at a maximum altitude of about 100 km, was fired in a northeasterly direction from DPRK’s west coast at 6:52 am, the ministry added, emphasizing that no reports of damage to aircraft or vessels have been reported.

Today’s launch is the third ballistic missile test so far this year, after the solid-fuel test overseen by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un last month and another of a missile loaded with hypersonic maneuverable controlled warhead in January.