A North Korean tactical ballistic missile roars off a coastal launch pad in a file photo. [Yonhap]
A North Korean tactical ballistic missile roars off a coastal launch pad in a file photo. [Yonhap]

North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into the East Sea on Thursday.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected about 10 short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Pyongyang area into the East Sea at 5 p.m. Thursday.

"With surveillance and alert heightened in preparation for additional launches, South Korea, the United States and Japan are maintaining a full readiness posture while closely sharing information on North Korea's ballistic missile launches," the Joint Chiefs said.

If confirmed as ballistic missiles, the launch would be the first in eight days.

Earlier, North Korea fired a single ballistic missile from the Wonsan area into the East Sea at around 6 a.m. on Aug. 12. That missile traveled more than 700 kilometers.

On Aug. 6, North Korea also fired a single short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) from the Wonsan area into the East Sea.

However, North Korea did not report either launch through its state media, raising questions about the intent behind them.

Thursday's launch came during Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), a theater-level combined exercise between South Korea and the United States running from Monday through Friday.

The launch also coincided with the tail end of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to South Korea, which began Wednesday.


rimsclub@heraldcorp.com