North Korea ballistic missile launch. KCNA=Yonhap News. 

North Korea fired a ballistic missile eastward on the morning of the 22nd, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced.

This marks North Korea's first ballistic missile provocation since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, occurring 167 days after it launched a mix of several types of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) on May 8.

This is the fifth ballistic missile launch this year. The military is analyzing the specifications of the ballistic missile launched this time, including its model and range.

Notably, this missile launch is drawing attention as it appears to be a show of force ahead of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju next week, which U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend.

Concerns are rising that North Korea, by resuming ballistic missile launches after more than five months, may escalate its provocations to gain recognition as a nuclear-armed state from the United States and others.

North Korea has been showcasing newly improved missiles in recent times.

At the recent defense equipment exhibition 'Defense Development-2025,' the KN-23 'Hwasong-11ma,' a North Korean variant of the Iskander and a representative SRBM of North Korea, was unveiled. Its most significant feature was the mounting of a warhead in the form of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV).

Subsequently, at the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party on the 10th, the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-20' was revealed for the first time.

The Hwasong-20 is a missile under development by North Korea with the goal of acquiring a multi-warhead ICBM capable of striking the U.S. mainland. There are also observations that it could undergo test launches soon.

Yonhap News