On Wednesday, South Korea’s military reported that North Korea fired a ballistic missile off its east coast as the US and South Korea staged joint naval exercises involving an aircraft carrier.

Japan’s coast guard also reported a suspected ballistic missile test. The launch took place two days after South Korea and US forces launched their military exercise in the waters off South Korea’s east coast involving an aircraft carrier.

On Thursday, US Vice President Kamala Harris is set to arrive in Seoul, the South Korean capital. On Sunday, North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast.

Notably, since 2006, North Korea has been subjected to UN sanctions. The Security Council has steadily and unanimously stepped up over the years to cut off funding for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

North Korea rejects UN resolutions as an infringement of its sovereign right to self-defence and space exploration. It has criticised military exercises by the United States and South Korea as proof of their hostile intentions.