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North Korea has launched a ballistic missile, South Korea says
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- North Korea conducted its second ballistic missile test within a week, launching a missile from Wonsan that flew over 700 kilometers, likely as a protest against upcoming South Korea-U.S. military drills viewed by Pyongyang as invasion rehearsals.
- South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. detected the launch, with Japan strongly protesting through diplomatic channels, emphasizing the threat to regional safety.
- The missile tests coincide with the announcement of the annual South Korea-U.S. large-scale military exercises starting August 17, which North Korea has historically opposed with weapons tests and aggressive rhetoric.
- North Korea continues to defy multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions banning ballistic missile launches, using its weapons development to pressure the U.S. for concessions amid stalled diplomacy since 2019.
- Meanwhile, North Korea is expanding its international ties, notably strengthening cooperation with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict and improving relations with China following Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Pyongyang.
