North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile into the East Sea... 'Seventh Provocation This Year' After Back-to-Back Launches on the 8th

[The Financial News] North Korea has resumed military provocations by firing an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea. It comes 11 days after a series of launches on the 8th, when the North fired twice in one day over the East Sea, and marks the fourth confirmed ballistic missile launch this month.
The Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (ROK JCS) said at around 6:17 a.m. that "North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile toward the east."
Earlier on the 8th, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from the Wonsan area in South Hamgyong Province into the East Sea. The missiles flew about 240 kilometers.
North Korea fired one more SRBM later that afternoon. The missile was reported to have flown more than 700 kilometers.
North Korean state media later said the launch was a power test of the new Hwasong-11Ga armed with cluster bombs to devastate its target area.
North Korea also launched an unidentified projectile on the 7th, but it was believed to have disappeared after showing signs of abnormality shortly after launch.
Including the provocations on Jan. 4, Jan. 27 and March 14, this latest launch is counted as North Korea's seventh ballistic missile provocation this year.

wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yoon Reporter