South Korea says North Korea has launched an unidentified projectile toward the sea: Reports

Seoul: North Korea fired what South Korea described as an unidentified projectile into waters off its eastern coastline on Tuesday, adding to rising tensions on the peninsula and prompting parallel alerts from Japan, according to early military assessments.

South Korea’s Defence Ministry confirmed the launch in a short statement, offering no immediate clarification on the nature of the weapon, its trajectory or its distance. Japan’s coast guard, issuing its own advisory, said it had detected what appeared to be a ballistic missile. 

Rising friction between the Koreas

The launch comes amid renewed hostility between Seoul and Pyongyang. In recent weeks, North Korea has accused South Korea of sending surveillance drones across the border and warned of retaliation. Seoul has denied deploying any aircraft during the alleged timeframes and has opened an inquiry to determine whether private individuals might have launched drones instead.

Hypersonic tests and escalating rhetoric

The latest activity follows a series of declared weapons tests by Pyongyang earlier this month, when it claimed to have carried out launches of hypersonic missiles. State media reported that leader Kim Jong Un personally observed those tests and emphasised the importance of strengthening the country’s nuclear deterrence.

Tuesday’s launch also precedes a key session of the ruling Workers’ Party, where new strategic and economic policies are expected to be set. The party congress, held only once every several years, will be the first such gathering in half a decade.

(With AP inputs)