Asia: North Korea launches ballistic missile

The North Korea South Korea’s military announced Wednesday that it had fired an “unidentified ballistic missile,” days after its last test, and ahead of a visit by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to South Korea. “The North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea,” the Seoul Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, referring to the waters commonly known as the Sea of ​​Japan.

The Japanese Coast Guard also cited information from the Tokyo Defense Ministry as confirming the possibility of a ballistic missile launch and asking ships to remain vigilant. The launch is part of Pyongyang’s unprecedented series of weapons tests this year.

Seoul’s intelligence agency has warned that Pyongyang is preparing to conduct another nuclear test. “The North has completed the third tunnel at the Punggye-ri nuclear site,” MK Yoo Sang-bum told reporters after a secret service meeting in Seoul.

US Vice President Kamala Harris is expected in Seoul on Thursday for a brief visit, during which she will visit the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. This week, the nuclear-powered ship USS Ronald Reagan conducted exercises in waters off the peninsula alongside the South Korean navy.

Washington is a key security ally of Seoul and about 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea. The two countries have long held joint exercises, which they say are purely defensive, but which North Korea considers a rehearsal for an invasion.