North Korea fires 2nd ballistic missile this year: South Korea

Seoul: South Korean (SK) military informed that North Korea (NK) fired a long-range ballistic missile into the East Sea on Saturday. It was the second ballistic missile launch in the year by NK while SK and the US are about to hold a joint military training, IANS reported citing Yonhap news agency.

According to Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the launch was detected from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 5:22 pm, and the missile, fired at a lofted angle, flew some 900 km.

The intelligence authorities of South Korea and the US are conducting a detailed analysis of the missile's specifics, JCS said.

"The North's long-range ballistic missile launch this time is an act of significant provocation that harms peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the international community," the JCS informed through a text message.

Calling the launch a "clear" violation of UN Security Council resolutions, JCS urged North Korea to immediately stop such a provocative act.

JCS added, "While tracking and monitoring related movements in close cooperation with the US in preparation against the possibility of additional provocations, our military will maintain a firm readiness posture capable of responding overwhelmingly to any North Korean provocations."

North Korea fired at least 70 ballistic missiles, including eight ICBMs, last year alone, the most in a single year.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the country would take "unprecedentedly persistent and strong" counteractions should the allies press ahead with their plans to stage combined military drills.