Japan says North Korea fired a suspected missile toward the sea on Thursday, coming a day after Pyongyang dismissed a U.S. decision to reduce joint military drills with South Korea.
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Key facts
- Japan says North Korea fired a suspected missile toward the sea on Thursday.
- The launch came a day after North Korea shrugged off a U.S. decision to scale back military drills with South Korea.
- The U.S. move to reduce drills appeared to be an attempt to resume diplomacy.
North Korea fired a suspected missile toward the sea on Thursday, according to Japan, in the latest launch to draw attention to tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The suspected launch came a day after North Korea shrugged off a U.S. decision to scale back military drills with South Korea, in what appeared to be an effort by Washington to create space for renewed diplomacy.
Japan’s assessment described the projectile as a suspected missile that was directed toward the sea. Details about the type of weapon, its range or where exactly it landed were not immediately provided in the initial report.
The timing of the launch, so soon after the U.S. decision on military exercises, underscores the difficulty of easing tensions between North Korea and the United States and its allies.
The U.S. move to reduce the scope of drills with South Korea had been seen as an apparent bid to resume diplomacy with Pyongyang, according to reporting on the situation.
Why it matters
North Korean missile launches raise security concerns for Japan, South Korea and the United States, and can complicate efforts to restart stalled diplomacy. The timing, just after a U.S. decision to scale back military drills, highlights the fragile state of relations on the Korean Peninsula.
Frequently asked questions
What did North Korea launch?
According to Japan, North Korea fired a suspected missile toward the sea on Thursday. Further details about the weapon were not provided in the initial report.
Why is the timing significant?
The suspected launch came a day after North Korea shrugged off a U.S. decision to scale back military drills with South Korea, a move that appeared aimed at resuming diplomacy.
Who reported the launch?
Japan reported the suspected missile launch, as noted by NPR.
Timeline
- North Korea fires a suspected missile toward the sea, Japan says
NPR News: The suspected launch on Thursday comes a day after North Korea shrugged off a U.S. decision to scale back military drills with South Korea in an apparent bid to resume diplomacy.