North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea several days before the United States and South Korea are due to begin major joint military exercises, prompting condemnation from Seoul and Tokyo, according to Reuters.
South Korea said it was concerned about North Korea’s continued ballistic missile launches and urged Pyongyang to halt what it described as provocative actions that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Japan also condemned the launch, with officials closely monitoring North Korea’s military activities and the trajectory of the missile.
The launch comes just days before the United States and South Korea are scheduled to hold their annual joint military exercises from Aug. 17 to Aug. 27. The drills are designed to strengthen the allies’ ability to respond to North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile capabilities.
Pyongyang has long denounced U.S.-South Korean military exercises as preparations for an invasion, while Washington and Seoul describe the drills as defensive and necessary to maintain readiness.
North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs despite international sanctions and U.N. resolutions prohibiting its ballistic missile activities.
The latest launch adds to tensions on the Korean Peninsula ahead of the military exercises, which are expected to test the allies’ ability to respond to a range of North Korean threats.
The United States, South Korea and Japan have increasingly strengthened security cooperation in response to North Korea’s weapons development, including missile-warning and military coordination.
The latest incident underscores the continuing security tensions surrounding North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to reduce confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.
