North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Ahead of South Korea's Election

North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Ahead of South Korea's Election

North Korea fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch in the North Korean capital Pyongyang.

Japan confirmed the launch, urging vessels to be vigilant and report any fallen objects. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the act as a threat to regional security. This marks North Korea's third ballistic missile launch in 2024. It follows a Russian veto on UN expert monitoring of North Korean sanctions violations and comes just days before South Korea's general elections.

Despite international sanctions, North Korea continues to develop its military arsenal, escalating tensions with South Korea which it deems its "principal enemy."