Key facts
- North Korea test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Saturday.
- The missile was claimed to have maneuverable flight capabilities designed to evade missile defenses.
- The launch occurred amid heightened tensions following a border landmine blast that injured three South Korean soldiers.
- North Korea denies responsibility for the mine blast.
- Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said her brother supervised the test.
North Korea said on Saturday it test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile, claiming it has maneuverable flight capabilities designed to evade missile defenses in South Korea and Japan. The launch occurred amid heightened tensions between the two Koreas following a border landmine blast that injured three South Korean soldiers.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch at approximately 6:30 a.m. from the Wonsan area. The missile traveled over 700 kilometers before splashing down in the sea. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing its exact specifications.
Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said her brother supervised the test of the missile, which she described as strategic. She accused Seoul of fabricating findings related to the mine blast and warned of retaliation, dismissing proposals for dialogue.
Seoul has blamed Pyongyang for the mine explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 21, calling it a violation of the armistice agreement. North Korea has denied responsibility for the incident.