North Korea continues its series of weapons tests, which began in recent weeks. Pyongyang fired an unidentified ballistic missile "in the direction of the East Sea," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported, using the Korean name for the Sea of Japan.
The launch comes days after Seoul and Washington on Thursday completed their largest joint military exercises in five years.
Pyongyang sees these maneuvers as rehearsals for an invasion. She said Friday that the recent exercises, dubbed "Freedom Shield," were training for an "occupation" of North Korea.
The North Korean military responded by conducting its own military maneuvers, including testing what it described as a new "underwater nuclear attack drone," and launching its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) of the year.
In 2022, North Korea declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power, and leader Kim Jong-un recently called for an "exponential" increase in weapons production, including tactical nuclear weapons.
With AFP and Reuters
The summary of the week France 24 invites you to look back on the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news with you everywhere! Download the France 24 app