(LEAD) N. Korea fires another ballistic missile toward East Sea after morning launches | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK (ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout; COMBINES with story slugged 'N Korea-projectile launch') By Lee Minji SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired another ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday afternoon after launching multiple short-range ballistic missiles earlier in the day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The North last fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on March 14 as annual springtime military drills by South Korea and the United States were under way. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: JCS Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos N. Korea fires another ballistic missile toward East Sea after morning launches Next (LEAD) N.

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout; COMBINES with story slugged 'N Korea-projectile launch')
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired another ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday afternoon after launching multiple short-range ballistic missiles earlier in the day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
The JCS said it detected the launch without providing further details.
The provocation came just hours after the JCS said it detected the short-range ballistic missiles launched from the North's Wonsan area at around 8:50 a.m. which flew around 240 kilometers before splashing into the sea.
It marked the North's fifth confirmed ballistic missile launch this year.
On Tuesday, the North also fired an unidentified projectile from the Pyongyang area, which is currently pending analysis by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities.
The projectile, believed to have been launched Tuesday morning, disappeared shortly after it was fired in an apparent failure.
North Korea carries out a firepower strike drill involving 600 mm ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers on March 14, 2026, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
The back-to-back launches came as President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone flights by individuals into the North at a Cabinet meeting Monday, saying the incidents have caused unnecessary military tension with Pyongyang.
His remarks came after prosecutors last week indicted three individuals accused of flying drones into North Korea between September and January.
Hours after Lee's remarks, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader Kim Jong-un, issued a statement that said North Korea's head of state assessed Lee as having a "frank and broad-minded" attitude.
But North Korea's first vice foreign minister, Jang Kum-chol, issued a statement late Tuesday dismissing the South Korean government's positive interpretation of Kim's message as a "pipe dream."
Jang said the message should be seen as a "clear warning," stressing that South Korea remains the North's "most hostile state," regardless of remarks or actions by Seoul officials.
The North last fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on March 14 as annual springtime military drills by South Korea and the United States were under way. State media reported the following day the North conducted a firepower strike drill involving 600-millimeter ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers.
In response to the first launch Wednesday morning, the JCS said it is closely monitoring the North and has shared relevant information with the U.S. side.
"Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements under a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture and maintains the capabilities and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner," the JCS said.
Pyongyang has yet to release any report on the consecutive launches.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
Related Articles
Cheong Wa Dae convenes meeting over N. Korea's missile launch, urges Pyongyang to stop provocations
(3rd LD) N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles in back-to-back launch
Cheong Wa Dae says insulting rhetoric by N. Korea not helpful for peace on Korean Peninsula
(LEA) N. Korean official says Kim Yo-jong's statement on S. Korea is 'clear warning'
Keywords
#N Korea
#missile launch
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
(LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop
BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP
'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho
Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message
(2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it
Most Saved
'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho
(3rd LD) Lee says S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
Defense chiefs of S. Korea, France discuss security, arms cooperation
(5th LD) S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message
Most Viewed
All Categories
S. Korea mulling transfer of 1 KF-21 prototype to Indonesia
N. Korea launched projectile Tuesday: JCS
(3rd LD) N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles in back-to-back launch
(LEA) N. Korean official says Kim Yo-jong's statement on S. Korea is 'clear warning'
N. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: JCS
Most Viewed More
Most Viewed Photos
N. Korea's workshop of secretaries of local party committees
S. Korean actor Ji Chang-wook
S. Korean actress IU
Nobel chemistry laureate in Seoul
prev
(LEAD) N. Korea fires another ballistic missile toward East Sea after morning launches
Next
(LEAD) N. Korea fires another

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- In response to the first launch Wednesday morning, the JCS said it is closely monitoring the North and has shared relevant information with the U.S. side. "Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements under a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture and maintains the capabilities and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner," the JCS said.

### Areas for Consideration
- The projectile, believed to have been launched Tuesday morning, disappeared shortly after it was fired in an apparent failure.
- Korea is 'clear warning' Keywords #N Korea #missile launch Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S.

### Implications
- But North Korea's first vice foreign minister, Jang Kum-chol, issued a statement late Tuesday dismissing the South Korean government's positive interpretation of Kim's message as a "pipe dream." Jang said the message should be seen as a "clear warning," stressing that South Korea remains the North's "most hostile state," regardless of remarks or actions by Seoul officials.
- Korea is 'clear warning' Keywords #N Korea #missile launch Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S.
- Korean actress IU Nobel chemistry laureate in Seoul prev (LEAD) N.
- Korea fires another ballistic missile toward East Sea after morning launches Next (LEAD) N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers korea, north, korean topics. Notable strengths include discussion of korea. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 782.