SEOUL- 

North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Wednesday (Nov. 9), the South Korean military reported, the latest in an unprecedented series of missile tests by Pyongyang that have sparked a surge in Northeast Asia. The military situation in the region is even tenser.


South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch of the short-range missile took place in Sucheon County, north of Pyongyang.

The Japan Coast Guard said the missile was in the air for less than five minutes before crashing into waters off North Korea's east coast.

Last week, North Korea fired 34 ballistic missiles, several of which triggered air strike alerts and evasion alerts in South Korea and Japan.

The South Korean navy later found fragments of one of the missiles near South Korean waters using an underwater remote control device.

South Korea's Defense Ministry on Wednesday released photos of recovered missile parts, some of which had Russian writing on them.

South Korean officials said the debris appeared to share some characteristics of the Soviet-designed SA-5 surface-to-air missile. Russia recently used similar missiles in the Ukraine war, South Korean officials said.

North Korea has close diplomatic and military ties with Russia. In recent years, the relationship between the two sides and the United States has deteriorated, and the relationship between Russia and North Korea has further strengthened.


Last week, the United States accused North Korea of ​​supplying Russia with large quantities of artillery shells in support of the Russo-Ukrainian war. North Korea countered on Tuesday that the United States was trying to "smear" North Korea's reputation.

Over the past year, North Korea has adopted a more hostile stance toward the United States and its allies, firing more than seventy missiles throughout the year.


North Korea said it launched missiles last week in response to joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. In response to North Korea's more frequent missile tests, the United States and South Korea have stepped up joint military exercises this year.

While the U.S.-South Korea joint air drills ended on Saturday, North Korea's military said on Monday it would continue to respond with "resolute and overwhelming" measures.


Many analysts say North Korea is repeating its old trick of creating an atmosphere of crisis to strengthen its bargaining power before seeking dialogue with the United States.

During the tenure of US President Biden, US officials stated that the United States is not opposed to unconditional dialogue, but the goal of the dialogue must be the ultimate denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

But North Korea ignored that and instead passed a new law in September that further strengthened the country's nuclear weapons status. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed never to give up his nuclear weapons or use them as bargaining chips.

U.S. and South Korean officials have warned in recent months that North Korea appears to be ready to conduct a nuclear test. This will further exacerbate military tensions in the region.