SEOUL — North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward waters off its east coast on Wednesday, with South Korean and Japanese authorities saying it traveled about 700 kilometers before falling into the sea outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The missile was launched from the Wonsan area at around 6 a.m. local time and reached an estimated altitude of 90 kilometers. South Korea convened an emergency security meeting and condemned the launch, while Japan lodged a formal protest through diplomatic channels.
The latest weapons test came days before South Korea and the United States are set to hold major joint military exercises from August 17 to 27. Pyongyang has long criticized the drills, which are intended to strengthen the allies’ response to North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities.
Photo: Reuters
