SGGPO 11/23/2023 09:26

South Korean media on the morning of November 23 quoted an announcement from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) saying that North Korea had launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea.

Photo of the scene of the launch of the military spy satellite Malligyong-1, which was launched into orbit on November 21. Photo: KCNA

According to the JCS, North Korea launched the missile from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 11:05 p.m. on November 22 (local time), but the launch appeared to have failed. The JCS said that South Korean and US intelligence agencies are analyzing the missile launch.

Earlier, the North Korean Defense Ministry announced that the country would immediately restore all military measures that had been temporarily suspended under the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, after South Korea partially suspended the 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement in response to the North's latest military spy satellite launch late on November 21.

South Korean people watch news of the launch of a military spy satellite at Seoul Station on November 22. Photo: AP

Photo of the military reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1, which was launched into orbit on November 21. Photo: KCNA

Earlier, Yonhap news agency reported on November 22 that the government had approved a proposal to partially suspend the inter-Korean military agreement signed in 2018 in response to North Korea's launch of a military spy satellite. The decision was made during an extraordinary cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The South Korean National Security Council announced that it would take steps to temporarily suspend part of the agreement as well as resume reconnaissance and surveillance activities around the inter-Korean border area.

On the same day, November 22, KCNA news agency reported that North Korea had received photos of the US military base on Guam from the country's first spy satellite launched into orbit. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un viewed these photos.