North Korea Launches Another Missile Toward Sea Ahead Of US-South Korean Military Drills

North Korea conducted a ballistic missile test on Wednesday, marking its second launch in less than a week. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that a missile fired from the Wonsan area on the country's eastern coast traveled more than 700 kilometers (435 miles). Japan's Defense Ministry also detected the launch, confirming the weapon landed in waters outside its exclusive economic zone, between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

The repeated tests coincide with South Korea and the United States announcing plans to begin their annual large-scale military drills on August 17. North Korea has historically treated such exercises as a pretext for weapons testing, viewing them as invasion rehearsals. Experts say the country often uses its rivals' military training to justify boosting its own testing activities.

South Korea's national security council characterized the launches as "acts of provocation" And called for North Korea to cease them immediately. The country's military said it remains prepared to counter any provocation in cooperation with the United States. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters that Japan lodged a strong protest through its embassies in Beijing, stating "It's a serious problem that affects the safety of the Japanese people."

North Korea has not participated in talks with the U.S. And South Korea for years. The latest launch followed an earlier ballistic missile test on August 6, which was North Korea's first such weapons activity since late June.

Multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from launching ballistic missiles. However, the country has significantly expanded its weapons testing since diplomatic efforts between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump ended in 2019. Experts attribute the increased testing to efforts to expand nuclear and missile capabilities, potentially to extract international sanctions relief.

In recent developments, North Korea has strengthened ties with Russia by providing troops and ammunition for its conflict in Ukraine, and has taken steps to deepen relations with China, including a June visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pyongyang - his first in seven years.