North Korea Launches Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile, South Korean Military Stands On Alert

Illustration of North Korea's ICBM missile launch. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - The South Korean military is on full alert after North Korea launched another medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM) aimed at Japan on Tuesday.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from Mupyong-ri in the northern province of Jagang at 7:23 a.m. local time. It said the missile flew over Japan, but gave no additional details.

"While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military maintains a posture of full alert in close cooperation with the United States," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.

This is the fifth ballistic missile launch by North Korea since late last month. Pyongyang launched one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) on September 25, then two last Wednesday, two more the following day, and two last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang last fired an IRBM in January. It is known, the Hwasong-12 type missile flew about 800 kilometers at an altitude of 2,000 km.

Yesterday, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol warned of a 'firm' response, following North Korea's missile launch at the weekend, citing Reuters from Yonhap News Agency.

The latest missile attacks came after Seoul and Washington completed their naval exercises, involving the carrier USS Ronald Reagan, and trilateral anti-submarine exercises with Japan last week.

The latest missile strike came after Seoul and Washington completed their naval exercises, which involved the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, and trilateral anti-submarine exercises with Japan last week.