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The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 4th that an intermediate-range strategic missile launch drill was conducted from North Korea's eastern region into the East Sea of Korea in the early hours of the 3rd, overseen by State Affairs Commission President Kim Jong-un. / Yonhap

The Ministry of National Defense stated on the 4th regarding North Korea's recent series of missile provocations that it "identified the precise origin of the launch," assessing that the missiles can be fully detected and intercepted with defensive assets possessed by South Korea and the U.S.

That day, the Defense Ministry stated, "Our military closely monitored North Korea's recent successive missile launches from the preparatory stage, detected and tracked the missile immediately after launch, and clearly identified the launch origin."

It added, "South Korea and the U.S. maintain a firm combined defense posture, assessing that the missiles recently launched by North Korea can be fully detected and intercepted by defensive assets held by South Korea and the U.S."

The ministry continued, "North Korea's ballistic missile launches are grave acts in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. We strongly urge North Korea to immediately cease actions that escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and join efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Recently, North Korea rejected the South Korean government's demand for an apology regarding the landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), continuing its show of force by launching an intermediate-range hypersonic missile. Kim Yo-jong, director of the General Affairs Department of the Workers' Party of Korea, took the unusual step of announcing the drill on the very day of the missile launch. North Korea typically publicized launch outcomes through state media such as the Korean Central News Agency the day after a launch, or withheld public disclosure entirely.

Citing differing missile flight data released respectively by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and Japan's Ministry of Defense, Kim claimed that the military authorities of South Korea and Japan failed to track the missile.

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol