North Korea conducts a tactical ballistic missile launch on June 25, 2026. (KCNA/Yonhap)
North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday morning, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.The Joint Chiefs said it detected one ballistic missile launched from the Wonsan area on the North’s eastern coast at around 6 am that day. The missile flew more than 700 kilometers.South Korean and US authorities are conducting a detailed analysis to determine its exact specifications.“South Korean and US intelligence authorities have been sharing relevant information since the early stages of the launch,” the Joint Chiefs said, adding that they had also shared information with Japan.The launch came six days after North Korea’s previous ballistic missile test, when it fired a short-range ballistic missile on Aug. 6.The latest launch may have been a response to the upcoming US-South Korea joint military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, which North Korea has strongly condemned as a rehearsal for war. The annual exercise is scheduled to begin on Monday. By Kwon Hyuk-chul, staff reporterPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
