Tensions rise as North Korea fires unidentified ballistic missile toward East Sea

In the early hours of Monday, North Korea reportedly fired an 'unspecified' ballistic missile towards the East Sea, according to South Korean military sources. This launch, occurring shortly after a previous short-range missile test, has raised speculation about the potential of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

"North Korea has launched a suspected ballistic missile. More updates to follow," declared the PM's Office of Japan on X, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

While the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed the detection of the launch, specific details about the nature or trajectory of the missile have not been disclosed. "Our military detected a short-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea at around 22:38 (1338 GMT) on Sunday," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

Just hours before this incident, North Korea fired a short-range missile originating in or around Pyongyang, covering approximately 570 kilometers, as per reports.

These back-to-back missile launches follow a forewarning by South Korea's First Deputy National Security Adviser, Kim Tae-hyo, who had suggested the possibility of North Korea firing an ICBM within this month.

Tensions amidst diplomatic meetings

The recent escalation in missile activity coincides with the second session of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) between South Korea and the US. Both nations aimed to finalize guidelines for a shared nuclear strategy by the middle of the upcoming year. However, North Korea’s defense ministry condemned the meeting, labeling it 'an open declaration on nuclear confrontation' and criticized the US deployment of military assets to the Korean Peninsula.

This missile launch further strains the already tense relations between North and South Korea, marked by Pyongyang's withdrawal from a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement and Seoul's suspension of parts of the deal in protest against North Korea's recent satellite launch.

While North Korea's previous ballistic missile launch on November 22 reportedly failed, tensions remain high in the region amidst repeated provocations and strained diplomatic relations between the involved parties.

Violations and criticisms

South Korea's JCS condemned the launch as a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution prohibiting ballistic missile activities. "North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch is a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution, which prohibits the use of ballistic missile technology and scientific and technological cooperation," they stated in a press release.

Shortly after the launch, North Korean state media criticized US and South Korean military drills, displays of force, and nuclear war planning.

The US Indo-Pacific Command stated that while the event doesn't pose an immediate threat, it highlights the destabilizing impact of North Korea's weapons program. Additionally, according to a Reuters report, the launch was immediately detected, tracked, and monitored, with information closely shared between the United States and Japan.

Further, following the launch, the Japan Coast Guard stated that the missile had already fallen and most likely landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.