North Korea carried out another missile launch toward the sea on Wednesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said. The launch marks the country’s second reported weapons test in less than a week.
_x000D_The latest test comes just days before South Korea and the United States begin their annual joint military exercises. North Korea has repeatedly criticized the drills and described them as preparations for an invasion.
_x000D_ _x000D_North Korea Missile Launch Detected Near Wonsan
_x000D_South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch around 6 a.m. from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast.
_x000D_The missile traveled toward North Korea’s eastern waters, according to South Korean officials. Seoul immediately increased its surveillance and continued sharing information with the United States and Japan.
_x000D_Japan’s Defense Ministry also detected what it described as a suspected ballistic missile launch.
_x000D_Japanese officials said they did not detect the missile entering Japan’s exclusive economic zone. That suggests the weapon fell farther away from the Japanese coast.
_x000D_ _x000D_Missile Test Comes Before U.S.-South Korea Drills
_x000D_The North Korea missile launch comes two days after Seoul and Washington announced plans for their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises.
_x000D_The drills will begin on August 17 and continue for 11 days. South Korea expects around 18,000 troops to participate.
_x000D_The United States and South Korea say the exercises help strengthen their defensive readiness against potential North Korean threats.
_x000D_Pyongyang sees the drills differently. North Korea has long described major U.S.-South Korea military exercises as invasion rehearsals.
_x000D_In the past, the country has responded to such drills with missile tests and aggressive statements.
_x000D_ _x000D_North Korea Steps Up Weapons Testing
_x000D_The latest launch follows another reported test on August 6. South Korea, the United States and Japan detected a short-range ballistic missile at that time.
_x000D_That launch marked North Korea’s first reported ballistic weapons test since late June.
_x000D_North Korean authorities did not immediately confirm the August 6 launch. The country often releases information about weapons tests one day after they occur.
_x000D_The repeated launches highlight continuing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
_x000D_ _x000D_Tensions Remain High
_x000D_North Korea has continued developing its missile and nuclear capabilities since diplomacy between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump broke down in 2019.
_x000D_Talks stalled over disagreements about international sanctions and North Korea’s nuclear program.
_x000D_Since then, Pyongyang has continued testing various weapons while criticizing U.S. military cooperation with South Korea and Japan.
_x000D_The latest North Korea missile launch is likely to draw renewed attention from Washington, Seoul and Tokyo as they prepare for the upcoming military exercises.