North Korea launched one suspected short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday. The move appears to respond to the latest U.S. sanctions against Pyongyang. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launch from near Taegwan County in North Phyongan Province.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the launch of one suspected short-range ballistic missile from near Taegwan County in North Phyongan Province at 12:35 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2025. The missile flew approximately 700 kilometers before splashing into the East Sea, with further analysis underway alongside the U.S. to determine its specifications.
South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities had detected signs of North Korea's missile launch preparations in advance and closely monitored the situation, sharing relevant information with the U.S. and Japan. The JCS stated that it has strengthened surveillance against possible additional launches while maintaining a fully prepared readiness posture.
This launch marks the sixth ballistic missile test by North Korea this year and the second since President Lee Jae Myung took office in June. The previous firing occurred on Oct. 22, ahead of South Korea's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and U.S. President Donald Trump's visit.
The action followed North Korea's denunciation of the latest U.S. sanctions on eight North Korean individuals and two entities over cybercrime-related money laundering. Pyongyang slammed the measures as reaffirming Washington's hostile policy, vowing to take appropriate steps with patience. Despite President Trump's expressed wish to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume stalled diplomacy, the U.S. State Department announced this week its pursuit of U.N. sanctions on seven ships accused of illegally exporting North Korean coal and iron ore to China.
