North Korea fires ballistic missile towards the sea, South Korea says

What the report says

South Korea’s military said North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast on Saturday, with the missile reportedly fired from the port city of Wonsan. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it raised an alert for possible additional launches. Japan also issued an emergency warning after detecting what it described as a suspected ballistic missile launch.

According to Al Jazeera, the firing came amid renewed tension on the Korean Peninsula. The launch followed comments from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who had criticized South Korean demands for an apology over landmine explosions near the border. South Korea and the US-led United Nations Command have said those blasts were caused by mines planted north of the Military Demarcation Line, and three South Korean soldiers were seriously injured.

The report said Seoul has also pressed Pyongyang to stop reinforcing its border with mines and anti-tank barriers. North Korea has recently carried out several other military demonstrations, including tests of a claimed hypersonic missile system, live-fire drills and the commissioning of a new warship. The latest launch adds to concerns about escalation between the two Koreas and wider regional security.