North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the sea off its east coast on Wednesday, according to South Korea's military. This follows a suspected ballistic missile launch detected a day earlier.
South Korean and US authorities are analyzing the Tuesday launch. Yonhap news agency, citing military officials, reported the projectile showed signs of abnormality and disappeared early in its flight. The Joint Chiefs of Staff lean towards it being a failed ballistic missile.
North Korea rejects UN bans on such tests, citing sovereign self-defense rights.
Separately, a senior North Korean official declared Pyongyang sees Seoul as an "enemy state." Jang Kum Chol, a foreign ministry official, stated South Korea is engaging in "wishful thinking" if it believes Pyongyang is ready to change its hostile stance. The comments came after North Korea acknowledged conveying regret for earlier drone incursions, which some in Seoul viewed as a conciliatory gesture.
However, Jang clarified that this statement was a warning, dismissing interpretations of friendly intentions. The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-1953 conflict ended with a truce.