Seoul: North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Saturday, prompting South Korean authorities to strengthen surveillance and hold an emergency security meeting amid heightened tensions along the inter-Korean border.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast at around 6:30 a.m. local time. The projectile travelled more than 700 kilometres before falling into the sea, according to South Korean military authorities.

South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities tracked the launch from its early stages and are analysing the missile’s exact specifications. Officials have indicated that the weapon could potentially belong to the medium-range or intermediate-range ballistic missile category, although a definitive classification has not yet been announced.

The launch came at a particularly sensitive moment in relations between Seoul and Pyongyang. South Korea has accused North Korea of being responsible for a September landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers, including two who suffered serious injuries.

Seoul has demanded an apology from Pyongyang and called on North Korea to stop strengthening its military infrastructure along the border. North Korea has denied responsibility for the mine incident and rejected Seoul’s allegations.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has strongly criticised South Korea’s accusations and rejected Seoul’s recent calls for dialogue. Her statements have added to concerns about the possibility of further deterioration in inter-Korean relations.

Following the missile launch, South Korea’s National Security Office convened an emergency meeting to examine the country’s military readiness and assess the security implications of the test. The government also instructed relevant authorities to maintain preparedness for any additional North Korean launches.

South Korea, the United States and Japan are sharing information about the missile and maintaining close monitoring of North Korean military activity. Japan’s defence authorities also assessed the projectile as potentially ballistic and advised vessels to remain alert to possible debris.

The launch was North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test and came only 13 days after two short-range ballistic missiles were fired from the same general area on September 20. The repeated launches have kept regional governments focused on missile defence and military preparedness.

The latest development has therefore added another layer of tension to an already fragile security situation on the Korean Peninsula. With diplomatic disagreements over the DMZ mine blast unresolved and North Korea continuing its missile testing activity, Seoul is now facing the immediate challenge of strengthening security preparedness while keeping channels for dialogue open.