North Korea's Third Missile Launch This Year (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea launched an unidentified projectile eastward. This is the third time this year that North Korea has fired a projectile presumed to be a ballistic missile, following launches on the 5th and 11th, occurring just three days apart.

On the 14th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff sent a text message to the press corps stating, "At 2:47 PM today, an unidentified projectile was launched eastward," without providing specific details. Military authorities are analyzing the projectile's range, altitude, and other specifications.

This launch came shortly after the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) independently sanctioned six North Korean nationals involved in North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs on the 12th (local time).

On the same day, North Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a statement regarding the U.S. sanctions, saying, "If the United States insists on taking such a confrontational stance, we will respond more strongly and clearly."

Unlike the previous two launches, which occurred early in the morning, this launch took place during daytime hours, leading to speculation that North Korea intends to specifically showcase the type of projectile to demonstrate its military power.