DPRK launches unidentified ballistic missile amid escalating tensions

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Jul 2024 09:23

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched an unidentified ballistic missile toward the east on Monday, as reported by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

Listen

People watch a news program broadcasting a file image of a missile launch by DPRK, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP)

The South Korean Military's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul reported that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile toward the east on Monday, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The JCS provided no further details about the launch, stating that an analysis was underway, Yonhap reported. Similarly, the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not immediately confirm the launch.

This launch occurred several days after the DPRK claimed to have successfully tested a multiple warhead missile, although South Korea reported that Wednesday's launch ended in a mid-air explosion.

Relations between the two Koreas are currently at one of their lowest points in years. The DPRK has been increasing its weapons testing activities amid increasing US-South Korean military drills and has been sending balloons filled with trash into the South. The DPRK says these actions are in retaliation for balloons loaded with anti-regime propaganda leaflets from South Korea.

South Korea has fully suspended a tension-reducing military treaty, resumed propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts, and conducted live-fire drills near the border.

DPRK condemns drills by US, Japan, S. Korea as 'Asian NATO'

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) denounced on Sunday the joint military drills by South Korea, Japan, and the United States, calling them an "Asian NATO" and warning of "fatal consequences."

It comes after the allies concluded a three-day exercise called "Freedom Edge," which involved ballistic missile and air defense drills, anti-submarine warfare, and defensive cyber training.

The three-day military training, codenamed Freedom Edge, "will focus on ballistic missile defense, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, maritime interdiction, and defensive cyber training," the JCS said.

The US Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, Japan's guided-missile destroyer JS Atago, and South Korea's KF-16 fighter jet are a few of the assets that took part in the drills.