North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the South Korean Peninsula on Saturday at 2:07 PM local time. The missile was a short-range weapon probably fired from a submarine.
The missile was launched from the Sinpo area of North Korea’s east coast at 2:07 p.m. local time, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea.
At 2:25 p.m. local time, the Japanese coast guard confirmed the missile had fallen into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, South Korean and US intelligence authorities are assessing the launch, and the South Korean military is maintaining a state of readiness.
The launch on Saturday comes only days after North Korea conducted another ballistic missile test on Wednesday.
This year, North Korea has increased its missile testing.
Saturday’s launch is the country’s 14th in 2022, including one that is thought to have failed in mid-March.
In comparison, only four tests were undertaken in 2020 and eight in 2021.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to accelerate the development of nuclear weapons at the “highest possible” speed during a military parade on April 25. Experts say the parade, together with Kim’s bluster and flurry of launches, provide a look into his nuclear ambitions, particularly efforts to produce solid-fueled missiles that are simpler to conceal from Western spy agencies.
“Instead of accepting invitations to dialogue, the Kim regime appears to be preparing a tactical nuclear warhead test. The timing will depend most on when the underground tunnels and modified device technology are ready,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.