North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile toward East Sea amid Russian attack on Ukraine

Kim Jong-un makes a closing address at a meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, Feb. 28, in this file photo provided by the North Korean government. AP-Yonhap

North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile toward the East Sea, Saturday, South Korea's military said, just four days ahead of the presidential election here.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 8:48 a.m. It did not elaborate.

The latest launch, the North's ninth show of such force this year, came less than a week after it claimed to have conducted a "reconnaissance satellite" development test that the South called a ballistic missile launch.

"Currently, our military is tracking and monitoring (North Korean) movements regarding the possibility of an additional launch and maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.

The North's continued saber-rattling signals that it seeks to bolster its military presence when the armed conflict in Ukraine is gobbling up global attention, observers said.

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Concerns have persisted that the North would continue to engage in provocative acts as it made a veiled threat in January to lift its years-long self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.

Since the start of this year, the North has launched a barrage of missiles, including a self-proclaimed hypersonic one, using various platforms, including a road-mobile launcher and a railway one.

Saturday's launch came as Pyongyang seeks to strengthen internal solidarity amid a deadlock in nuclear talks with Washington and economic woes aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)