North Korea launches unidentified projectile into East Sea, South Korean military reports

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported on the morning of January 14 (local time) that North Korea launched an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea.

The South Korean military is currently analyzing the projectile’s trajectory and flight distance.

This marks the second missile launch by North Korea in 2025, following the first on January 6, when a suspected hypersonic ballistic missile was fired from the Pyongyang area into the East Sea around noon.

According to the JCS, the missile launched on January 6 traveled approximately 1,100 kilometers before landing in the East Sea. The missile reportedly flew at an altitude of around 100 kilometers, reaching a speed exceeding Mach 11, or 11 times the speed of sound. At the time, South Korean military authorities also detected signs that North Korea might be preparing additional medium- to long-range missile tests.

Analysts suggest that North Korea’s repeated provocations are intended to assert its presence ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump’s new administration in the United States on January 20. Additionally, the launches may be an attempt to gauge South Korea’s military readiness amid the ongoing domestic political turmoil surrounding the country’s impeachment proceedings.

BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]