North Korea Allegedly Launched Short-Range Ballistic Missile

JAKARTA - The missile that North Korea launched on Friday is suspected to be a short-range ballistic missile, according to the South Korean military.

Friday's allegedly directed missile launch into the East Sea came a day after Pyongyang warned it would take appropriate steps against the United States' latest sanctions.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missile launch close to Taegwan Regency in North Pyongan Province at 12.35 p.m., without providing further details, quoted from The Korea Times.

The missile flew about 700 kilometers before falling into the sea, the JCS said, adding further analysis was being carried out with the United States to determine its specifications.

South Korean and US intelligence authorities detected signs of previous North Korean missile launch preparations and have closely monitored the situation, he added, noting that relevant information had been shared with the US and Japan.

Meanwhile, the Presidential National Security Office (ONS) said on Friday it was holding an emergency meeting to discuss Pyongyang's missile launch.

"ONS reviewed response measures and instructed related institutions to take necessary action," the presidential office said in a statement.

OTS also urged Pyongyang to stop acts that threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula and condemn the launch of its ballistic missile that violates UN Security Council resolutions.

"ONS immediately reported the missile launch to President Lee Jae-myung," he added.

North Korea last fired a short-range ballistic missile to the northeast on October 22 ahead of South Korea hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC) from October 31 to November 1.

Friday's missile launch also marked the launch of the sixth ballistic missile by North Korea this year and the second since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's Administration took office in June.

North Korea's missile dismantling comes a day after Pyongyang denounced the latest US sanctions against eight individuals and two North Korean entities over money laundering related to cybercrimes.

North Korea denounced the US sanctions as reaffirming Washington's hostile policy of Pyongyang and pledging to take appropriate action patiently.

Washington's new sanction comes as US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to continue his stalled diplomacy with Pyongyang.