Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): East Asian media reported the test firing of a ballistic missile by the North Korean army on Thursday morning (March 16, 2023).
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea's armed forces announced in a statement that Pyongyang's military fired a ballistic missile from the country's east coast.
According to "Yonhap" news agency, this new shot is the third missile test by North Korea in the last five days and after the start of large-scale drills between South Korea and the United States.
Minutes later, Japan's defense ministry said the ballistic missile launched by North Korea on Thursday morning was an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The ministry explained that the North Korean missile traveled a distance of 1,000 km at an altitude of 6,000 km.
Next, the Prime Minister of Japan held a meeting of the National Security Council in response to the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea.
At the same time, South Korea's National Security Council convened an emergency meeting on the order of the president of this country.
According to the report, North Korea's new ballistic missile test also comes hours before the start of a meeting between Seoul and Tokyo officials to discuss Pyongyang's recent provocative actions.
On Tuesday morning, the North Korean army fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea.
The Central Military Commission of North Korea's ruling party also decided on Sunday, in the presence of the country's leader, to adopt "important and practical" measures for the aggressive use of war deterrence.