SEOUL, December 17. /TASS/. North Korean launched a shorter-range ballistic missile from an area near Pyongyang, Yonhap said, citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

According to the South Korean military, the missile covered a distance of 570 kilometers and fell down in the Sea of Japan. The launch was carried out at 10:38 p.m. local time (1:38 p.m. GMT). The South Korean top brass said they are exchanging information about the launch with the United States and Japan. The three countries planned to begin real-time data exchange on missile launches in December. Apart from that, Seoul stressed that North Korea’s ballistic missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions.

It was reported earlier in the day that North Korea has launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan.

North Korea’s previous ballistic missile launch took place on November 22.

Earlier this week, Tokyo and Seoul warned that North Korea could conduct a launch of a ballistic missile before the end of the current year.

In 2023, Pyongyang conducted around 20 missile launches, including several tests of ballistic missiles. On November 21, the North Korea successfully launched its first Malligyong-1 reconnaissance satellite.

North Korea’s previous leader, Kim Jong Il, died on December 17, 2011.