North Korea: Military fires projectile into the East Sea Sept. 28

Event

South Korean military officials reported that North Korea fired at least one projectile into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) Sept. 28. The type of projectile, launch site, exact flight path, and distance the projectile traveled remain unclear. There have been no reports of damage, injuries, or transport disruptions following the launch.

Context

The incident follows missile tests that North Korea conducted Sept. 15 and Sept. 11-12 and will at least marginally increase regional tensions. While overall tensions between North Korea and the US, along with South Korea, have eased significantly since early 2018, the fundamental dynamics of the standoff on the Korean Peninsula remain largely unaltered. Pyongyang controls an arsenal of nuclear devices and long-range missiles, despite UN sanctions against its weapons programs. North Korea has previously stated it would only give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for concrete moves to decrease perceived US threats. Both sides are highly likely to avoid any actions that could escalate into a full-scale conflict.