North Korea Launches Ballistic Missiles Into The East Sea Ahead Of South Korean President's Visit To Japan

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

JAKARTA - North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea on Thursday, the Seoul military said, hours before South Korean and Japanese leaders would meet to discuss Pyongyang's growing threat and other common challenges.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 7:10 am local time.

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

North Korea previously fired what it claimed was the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile on February 18.

Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plan to hold a summit in Tokyo, where the threat of North Korea's nuclear and missile is expected to be one of their main agendas.

The latest launch also took place amid the ongoing training of the South Korean-US (FS) Freedom Shield, which North Korea criticized as "preparation for the war of aggression" against it.

Two days ago, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Tuesday and what it claims is two "strategic cruise missiles" from the submarine two days earlier. The launch was seen in response to FS exercises.