Update (1008 EST): South Korean Joint Chiefs have announced that the missile was a short range ballistic missile. The North Korean Ministry of Defense made this announcement shortly after the launch:."Any attempt by hostile forces to use nuclear weapons will be met with a preemptive and devastating response..Statement by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense of the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaThe US and South Korean military thugs, who have been shaking up the political situation on the Korean peninsula all year with reckless military provocations such as the deployment of nuclear strike means and large-scale joint military exercises, are trying to end the year with a demonstration of nuclear war..The United States and South Korean enthusiasts, who held the second "Nuclear Consultation Group" mock board in Washington on the 15th, are expected to complete the construction of the "Guidelines for Nuclear Strategic Planning and Operation" and the "Extended Deterrence System" by the middle of next year. In August of the following year, it was announced that a nuclear operational exercise would be conducted during the "Ulji Freedom Shield" large-scale joint military exercise..This is a blatant declaration of nuclear confrontation that establishes the use of nuclear weapons against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in case of emergency as a fait accompli and reviews the operational procedures for its implementation in an actual war atmosphere..Our revolutionary force strongly condemns and rejects the reckless military actions of the US and South Korean military thugs who are maximizing the escalation of the situation on the Korean peninsula and surrounding regions through hostile provocative acts against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea even until the end of the year..The intention of the United States, which had the nuclear-powered submarine "Missouri" appear on the Korean peninsula as soon as they sat together in Washington and began devising a dangerous nuclear war, was clear..This precarious situation is adding urgency to our military's need to adopt a more offensive response..This year's unstable political and military situation, which began with the entry of the U.S. Air Force strategic bomber "B-1B" last January and ended with the port call of the U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine in December, has raised the level of military tension in the Korean Peninsula both rhetorically and behaviorally. It clearly points to the fact that the actors unilaterally elevating the situation are none other than the United States and its followers..As America's adventurous military doctrine, which presupposes the use of nuclear strike means, is evolving in a more dangerous direction, the nuclear conflict crisis in the Korean peninsula is turning into a question of timing rather than a matter of possibility..Due to the indiscriminate military threats by the United States and the Republic of Korea, the security environment on the Korean Peninsula is hardly stable..We will never stand idly by and watch the provocative actions of the United States, which is once again imposing nuclear strategic means on the Korean Peninsula until the end of the year, contrary to the aspirations and wishes of the region and the international community for relaxation of tension, peace and stability..The armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fulfill their constitutional duty to reliably guarantee the peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the region and protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the rights and interests of the people by thoroughly neutralizing the attempt by the United States and its followers to provoke nuclear war. will be faithfully implemented..Any attempt by hostile forces to use force against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be met with a preemptive and devastating response.".Update (0917 EST): The suspected ballistic missile has fallen into the Sea of Japan outside of the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone, according to Japanese media..The South Korean Joint Chiefs and the Japanese Defense Ministry have confirmed that moments ago, a suspected ballistic missile was launched from North Korea..This is the first missile launch since both Koreas abandoned the the bi-lateral 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement, following the November 21st, 2023 military reconnaissance satellite launch..This is developing.
Update (1008 EST): South Korean Joint Chiefs have announced that the missile was a short range ballistic missile. The North Korean Ministry of Defense made this announcement shortly after the launch:."Any attempt by hostile forces to use nuclear weapons will be met with a preemptive and devastating response..Statement by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense of the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaThe US and South Korean military thugs, who have been shaking up the political situation on the Korean peninsula all year with reckless military provocations such as the deployment of nuclear strike means and large-scale joint military exercises, are trying to end the year with a demonstration of nuclear war..The United States and South Korean enthusiasts, who held the second "Nuclear Consultation Group" mock board in Washington on the 15th, are expected to complete the construction of the "Guidelines for Nuclear Strategic Planning and Operation" and the "Extended Deterrence System" by the middle of next year. In August of the following year, it was announced that a nuclear operational exercise would be conducted during the "Ulji Freedom Shield" large-scale joint military exercise..This is a blatant declaration of nuclear confrontation that establishes the use of nuclear weapons against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in case of emergency as a fait accompli and reviews the operational procedures for its implementation in an actual war atmosphere..Our revolutionary force strongly condemns and rejects the reckless military actions of the US and South Korean military thugs who are maximizing the escalation of the situation on the Korean peninsula and surrounding regions through hostile provocative acts against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea even until the end of the year..The intention of the United States, which had the nuclear-powered submarine "Missouri" appear on the Korean peninsula as soon as they sat together in Washington and began devising a dangerous nuclear war, was clear..This precarious situation is adding urgency to our military's need to adopt a more offensive response..This year's unstable political and military situation, which began with the entry of the U.S. Air Force strategic bomber "B-1B" last January and ended with the port call of the U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine in December, has raised the level of military tension in the Korean Peninsula both rhetorically and behaviorally. It clearly points to the fact that the actors unilaterally elevating the situation are none other than the United States and its followers..As America's adventurous military doctrine, which presupposes the use of nuclear strike means, is evolving in a more dangerous direction, the nuclear conflict crisis in the Korean peninsula is turning into a question of timing rather than a matter of possibility..Due to the indiscriminate military threats by the United States and the Republic of Korea, the security environment on the Korean Peninsula is hardly stable..We will never stand idly by and watch the provocative actions of the United States, which is once again imposing nuclear strategic means on the Korean Peninsula until the end of the year, contrary to the aspirations and wishes of the region and the international community for relaxation of tension, peace and stability..The armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fulfill their constitutional duty to reliably guarantee the peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the region and protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the rights and interests of the people by thoroughly neutralizing the attempt by the United States and its followers to provoke nuclear war. will be faithfully implemented..Any attempt by hostile forces to use force against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be met with a preemptive and devastating response.".Update (0917 EST): The suspected ballistic missile has fallen into the Sea of Japan outside of the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone, according to Japanese media..The South Korean Joint Chiefs and the Japanese Defense Ministry have confirmed that moments ago, a suspected ballistic missile was launched from North Korea..This is the first missile launch since both Koreas abandoned the the bi-lateral 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement, following the November 21st, 2023 military reconnaissance satellite launch..This is developing.