North Korea carried out a strategic weapons launch exercise in the East Sea on Saturday, according to a statement attributed to Kim Yo-jong and reported by KBS News. The drill involved a mid-range strategic missile, the report said.
South Korea's presidential office convened an emergency meeting in response to the launch and called for an immediate halt, MBC News reported. The missile flew more than 700 kilometers, according to JTBC.
The launch came three days after Seoul demanded an apology from Pyongyang over a landmine incident, JTBC reported.
Reaction from South Korea's political parties was split. The ruling Democratic Party urged the North to stop its threats, while the opposition People Power Party accused the government of being overly cautious toward Pyongyang, according to YTN. The People Power Party also called for an end to what it described as a policy of begging toward the North, saying the only response it draws is mockery, Munhwa Ilbo reported.
The launch followed a period of heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula, though the reports available did not specify further details about the missile's type or trajectory.
What to watch next: whether South Korea's government adjusts its approach toward Pyongyang, and whether North Korea issues any further statements about the drill.
