North Korea has test-fired another ballistic missile, South Korea says, amid heightened tensions in the region.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the missile was fired on Wednesday off the North's east coast, adding that the missile flew 290 kilometers at an altitude of 30 kilometers and a speed of MACH-6 before plunging into the sea.
Seoul's military said it "detected a short-range ballistic missile launched by North Korea into the East Sea from Sukchon, South Pyongan Province, at around 15:31 [ 03:31 p.m.]," referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. It added that the South Korean military maintained its full preparedness "while closely cooperating with the United States."
Japan's Coast Guard also reported a launch, with the government tweeting that Pyongyang "has launched a suspected ballistic missile." Japan's Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile flew about 250 kilometers "at a very low altitude of about 50 kilometers or less," adding that Japanese authorities were still examining further details like the missile's orbit.
He condemned the launch as threatening "the peace and security of our country, the region, and the international community."
Over the past several days, North Korea has fired a barrage of missiles, including another intercontinental ballistic missile, in response to the largest ever joint military drills by Washington and Seoul.
On Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned North Korea's missile launches. Pyongyang replied by saying Guterres was biased and responsible for the tensions on the Korean Peninsula.