North Korea fires long-range ballistic missile

North Korea fired a long-range ballistic missile from Pyongyang on Thursday morning, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The missile launch comes hours before the leaders of South Korea and Japan are scheduled to meet for a summit.

Footage broadcast by Pyongyang's Korean Central Television (KCTV) shows one of the two ballistic missiles that were launched from Jangyon, South Hwanghae Province on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

North Korea fired a long-range ballistic missile from Pyongyang on Thursday morning, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The missile launch comes hours before the leaders of South Korea and Japan are scheduled to meet for a summit in Tokyo to discuss a range of topics expected to include North Korea.

Thursday's launch also comes amid the South Korea-United States Freedom Shield exercise, which North Korea has called "preparations for a war of aggression" against its regime.

"While strengthening its monitoring and vigilance, our military is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the United States," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message sent to reporters.

This is the third missile launch by North Korea this week.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]