North Korea Has Fired Ballistic Missile, Say Japan And South Korea

North Korea has launched a suspected ballistic missile, Japan and South Korea said on Thursday.

North Korea has launched a suspected ballistic missile off its eastern coast, Japan and South Korea said on Thursday. Following the alleged launch, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida instructed his officials to "dedicate maximum efforts to gather and analyze data and provide the public speedy and adequate information". Kishida also asked the administration to ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels, and other assets and take all possible measures for precaution, including contingency preparedness.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the missile was launched towards the East Sea. 

The launch followed North Korea's expression of discontent over live fire drills conducted by South Korea and the United States, reported news agency Reuters. The Japanese Defence Ministry stated that the projectile fired by North Korea appeared to be a ballistic missile.

In a display of strength following North Korea's failed attempt to launch a spy satellite last month, which escalated tensions in the region, several thousand South Korean and U.S. troops participated in joint live-fire exercises on Thursday. In response to these drills, North Korea warned that it would strongly retaliate against any protests or provocations by its adversaries, the Reuters report stated.

Late last month, Pyongyang made an unsuccessful bid to launch a spy satellite, marking its first such endeavour since 2016. The rocket booster and payload subsequently plunged into the sea.

SOUTH KOREA SUES NORTH

On Wednesday, South Korea initiated a damage lawsuit against North Korea, seeking 44.7 billion Won ($35 million) in compensation, reported ABC News. The lawsuit stems from the 2020 incident in which North Korea detonated a joint liaison office located just north of the border. This act of destruction amplified tensions between the two countries following the breakdown of nuclear talks between North Korea and the United States.

The lawsuit, filed symbolically with the Seoul Central District Court, arrives amid a prolonged absence of diplomatic dialogue and mounting apprehensions regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs. South Korea had until Friday, when the three-year statute of limitations expired, to claim damages related to the incident.

Koo Byoungsam, the spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry responsible for North Korean relations, denounced the demolition of the building as an unlawful and violent act that violated previous agreements and severely undermined mutual respect and trust.

Although there is no clear mechanism for South Korea to enforce payment if North Korea is found liable for damages, the lawsuit serves to preserve South Korea's legal right to compensation and surpass the statute of limitations. This lawsuit is the first ever filed by the South Korean government against the North Korean government, the report stated.

In June 2020, North Korea utilized explosives to destroy the liaison office, which was constructed by South Korea, in the border town of Kaesong. The act was prompted by North Korea's criticism of South Korea's failure to prevent North Korean defectors from sending anti-North propaganda leaflets across the border using balloons. The North had already closed the office in January 2020 due to concerns over the coronavirus and the building was unoccupied at the time of the detonation.