A ballistic missile. This image is unrelated to the article. [EPA]
A ballistic missile. This image is unrelated to the article. [EPA]

North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile into the Donghae on Thursday.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said its forces detected a single short-range ballistic missile launched from the Wonsan area into the Donghae at 5 p.m. Thursday, adding that South Korean and US authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of its specifications.

Thursday's launch was North Korea's 10th ballistic missile launch this year and its first in 42 days.

Earlier, on June 25, North Korea conducted test launches of tactical weapons capable of striking South Korea — including a tactical ballistic missile believed to be the Hwaseong-11Ra, a close-range ballistic missile, and extended-range rounds from 155mm self-propelled artillery — with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance.

The tactical ballistic missile was fired at more than half the reduced range of the Hwaseong-11Ra's normal reach of about 110 kilometers, marking an unusual departure from its typical launch pattern.

In addition, on July 3, North Korea test-fired a strategic cruise missile mounted on the new 5,000-ton destroyer Ganggeon-ho.

Thursday's launch came ahead of the theater-level combined exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield, which is expected to be held this month.

North Korea has routinely condemned theater-level South Korea-US joint exercises and the deployment of US strategic assets they entail as "invasion rehearsals," responding with strong protests.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said South Korean and US intelligence authorities had been tracking and sharing relevant developments from the early stages of the launch, and that information on the ballistic missile had also been shared with Japan.

It added that South Korean forces "maintain the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation while closely monitoring North Korea's various activities under the firm South Korea-US combined defense posture."


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