North Korea launches ninth missile test of year, says South Korea

North Korea on Saturday fired what is believed to be a ballistic missile into waters east of the Korean peninsula, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. This would be the ninth test of the country commanded by Kim Jong Un of the year.

“The South Korean military is maintaining a readiness posture by monitoring related movements in preparation for additional launches,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

According to information from the South Korean body, the missile was launched from the Sunan area, near the capital Pyongyang.

The Japan Coast Guard has warned its ships, saying “possible ballistic missiles have been launched from North Korea”.

“We advise vessels to pay attention to further information and, if they observe any falling objects, do not approach and report relevant information to the Japan Coast Guard,” he said.

South Korea’s National Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday morning, the country’s Presidential Office said in a statement.

International tension has been heightened by a recent series of North Korean ballistic missile tests, actions long banned by the United Nations Security Council.

This marks North Korea’s ninth missile test in 2022 alone. January saw a record number of tests, with at least seven launches during the month, including a new type of “hypersonic missile” capable of high-speed maneuvering.

Analysts suggest that increased testing this year shows Kim is struggling to meet domestic goals and show an increasingly turbulent world that Pyongyang remains a player in the struggle for power and influence.

Saturday’s launch comes just days before South Korea’s March 9 presidential election, in which North Korea is likely to be a major election issue.