North korea: North Korea fired one short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's military reported. The missile was launched from the eastern coastal Wonsan area in the North at around 5 p.m., as confirmed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), though further details about the missile were not disclosed.

According to Philippines News Agency, the JCS stated that while enhancing monitoring and surveillance against potential additional launches, the South Korean military is maintaining full readiness. Moreover, they are closely sharing relevant information with the United States and Japan. The JCS is in the process of analyzing the specifications of the launched missile in collaboration with the U.S., noting that the two sides have jointly detected and communicated North Korea's related movements from the launch's initial stage.

The launch is the latest in a series of tests by North Korea, coming over a month after the country conducted a test of a tactical ballistic missile and new multiple rocket launchers on June 25. This test was overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and coincided with the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, seemingly to demonstrate North Korea's capability to target major facilities in the South.

The timing of Thursday's missile launch is significant as it precedes South Korea's annual summertime joint military exercise with the U.S., known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, which is expected to take place later this month. In response to the launch, South Korea's presidential national security office quickly convened a meeting with officials from the defense ministry and the JCS to ensure an alert response posture and evaluate the impact on national security.

The national security office also condemned the missile launch, labeling it a provocation that violates United Nations Security Council resolutions, and called for an immediate halt to such actions.