Pyongyang Test Fires Apparent Long-Range Ballistic Missile

North Korea appears to have launched a long-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff told Yonhap news agency.

• The projectile was fired Thursday afternoon, with initial communique from the Japan Coast Guard describing it as a suspected ballistic missile.
• The latest missile test comes as part of a series of similar exercises conducted this year, with recent press reports flagging potential for an imminent ICBM drill.
• North Korea's repeated missile tests have ratcheted up geopolitical tensions on the Korean peninsula.
• South Korea's President-elect Yoon is set to discuss the matter with China's President Xi this week.
• Yoon's campaign pledge to take a hard-line stance against the North and Pyongyang's intensified missile drills weigh on the prospect of any near-term detente in the region.
• North Korea typically refrains from commenting on its missile tests until the next day.