North Korea launches ballistic missile into sea, says South

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - South Korea's military reported that early on Friday, North Korea fired a single short-range ballistic missile towards the East Sea.

The launch was detected at 1.49 a.m. local time (1649GMT Wednesday), the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, according to Yonhap news agency.

"While stepping up our monitoring and vigilance, our military is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the United States," the Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters via text message, Yonhap reported.

The launch occurred after North Korea flew about 10 military aircraft near to the border at 10.30 p.m.-12.20 a.m., prompting Seoul to scramble F-35A fighters and other assets in retaliation.

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the country also fired two long-range strategic cruise missiles on Wednesday, involving forces using "tactical nukes."

Additionally, North Korea said on Monday that its leader, Kim Jong-un, had observed military exercises involving tactical nuclear units on Sept. 25-Oct. 9, including the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Oct. 4.