SEOUL - The South Korean military has reported that North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Sunday at around 2:53 p.m. local time, according to the South Korean and Japanese military.
South Korean media cited South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik during an interview that North Korea could test-fire intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missiles sometime this month, and may also launch a long-range missile "at normal angles".
According to South Korean media, North Korea has claimed it was a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile that was fired.
USINDOPACOM Statement on DPRK Missile Launch
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Public Affairs said of the launch, "We are aware of the ballistic missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners.
While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies, the missile launch highlights the destabilizing impact of the DPRK’s illicit weapons program.
The U.S. commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains ironclad. The ROK, Japan, and the U.S., trilaterally coordinated operations to ensure protection of their respective nations."
