North Korea fires new year’s 1st ballistic missile toward East Sea

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said early Sunday.

The JCS confirmed the detection of the launch but did not immediately provide additional details such as the missile's type, flight distance, or altitude.

It marked the first ballistic missile test by Pyongyang since Nov. 7, 2025, when a similar projectile was launched into the same body of water.

“Our military is maintaining a readiness posture while closely monitoring the situation,” the JCS said in a brief statement, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

The South Korean military said it is cooperating with US forces to assess the launch and determine its implications for regional security.