N. Korea Fires Ballistic Missile toward Sea of Japan

Seoul, Aug. 12 (Jiji Press)–North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan from Wonsan in the eastern province of Kangwon at around 6 a.m. Wednesday, the South Korean military said. Japan’s Defense Ministry also said that the projectile may have been a ballistic missile. It is believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Following the incident, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed government officials to gather related information and swiftly inform the public. The South Korean military said that it is closely sharing missile information with Japan and the United States and remains fully prepared for additional launches. North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile last Thursday. The latest launch apparently came in response to a planned large-scale joint military exercise by U.S. and South Korean forces set to begin Monday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]