North Korea Allegedly Fired A Ballistic Missile, Japanese Defense Minister: It Landed Outside Our EEZ

North Korea's test launch of a ballistic missile. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea has fired what appears to be a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, its first projectile launch since last October, the Japanese and South Korean governments said Wednesday.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch took place at around 8:10 a.m. local time, prompting the South Korean military to closely monitor the situation in cooperation with the United States.

"It is suspected (the projectile) has landed outside our country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ)," Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters, citing Kyodo News on January 5.

"What appeared to be ballistic missiles were launched from the interior of North Korea towards the east," he continued.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he regretted North Korea's repeated missile launches since last year.

"We will provide the correct information to the Japanese people quickly by putting our best efforts in gathering and analyzing information," Kishida told reporters after the launch.

To note, the UN Security Council Resolution prohibits North Korea from using ballistic missile technology.

North Korea last launched a projectile in October 2021, when it tested a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile, adding to concerns over the nuclear-armed nation's technological advances in difficult-to-intercept weapons.