[3rd Report] North Korea Fires Missile into East Sea

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea launched a missile into the East Sea. Typically, when the military authorities announce that North Korea has launched a ballistic missile, it is highly likely to be a ballistic missile.

On the 28th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff sent a text message to the press corps stating, "At around 6:40 a.m. this morning, one unidentified projectile was launched eastward from inland, and the South Korea-U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of additional information." This missile launch came 13 days after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile into the East Sea from a train on the 15th.

The government is closely watching whether it will classify North Korea's missile launch on this day as a provocation.

Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, issued a statement on the 25th through North Korea's external media, the Korean Central News Agency, saying, "As a matter of courtesy, you should not recklessly make the outrageous judgment of 'provocation' against us and induce verbal exchanges between the North and South. To make it clear once again, we can never tolerate double standards," advocating the logic of mutual respect.

Her statement implied that even if missiles are launched, if it is not classified as a provocation and mutual respect between North and South is maintained, discussions on inter-Korean issues such as summits and declarations to end the war could proceed. However, there is a possibility that this unidentified projectile also constitutes a ballistic missile violating United Nations Security Council resolutions.