Seoul: South Korea's military says North Korea fired at least one projectile toward the sea, adding to a recent streak in weapons demonstrations. The launches have heightened tensions amid a prolonged freeze in diplomatic efforts.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday did not immediately say whether the weapon was a ballistic missile or how far it flew. Japan's Defence Ministry said it detected at least two suspected ballistic missile launches and assessed that the weapons landed in waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
The launch came days after South Korea flight-tested its first domestically developed hypersonic weapon on Friday. Designed to travel at least five times the speed of sound and evade missile defence systems, the weapon was described by President Lee Jae Myung as an important step in strengthening the country's conventional defence capabilities.
North Korea, meanwhile, has maintained a hard line toward Seoul and stepped up weapons testing as it seeks to expand its arsenal of nuclear-capable systems. On October 3, it tested what it described as a hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to evade missile defences in South Korea and Japan.
Pyongyang has also carried out other missile tests and live-fire drills and commissioned a new warship. Leader Kim Jong Un continues to showcase the country's nuclear weapons programme while rejecting US and South Korean offers to resume long-stalled diplomatic talks.
Tensions worsened last month after three South Korean soldiers were injured in land mine explosions near the heavily armed border between the two Koreas. South Korea's military and the US-led United Nations Command concluded that the blasts were caused by mines planted by North Korea. Pyongyang has denied responsibility and dismissed Seoul's demands for an apology.
Kim has halted diplomatic engagement and cooperation with South Korea in recent years, describing the neighbouring country as a permanent enemy. This has come amid a prolonged stalemate in broader nuclear negotiations with Washington.
Kim has also rebuffed US President Donald Trump's calls to revive talks that broke down in 2019. His government has demanded that Washington abandon what it calls its 'hostile' policy towards Pyongyang and drop demands for North Korea's denuclearisation as a precondition for negotiations.
The escalating tensions have posed a challenge for Lee, who favours engagement with North Korea and has moderated his rhetoric despite growing public anger over the land mine explosions. He has also called for strengthening South Korea's conventional defence capabilities while reducing its reliance on the United States.
Washington unilaterally decided to scale back a major joint military exercise with South Korea in August. Trump cited his 'very good relationship' with Kim as the reason.
(With inputs from agencies)