North Korea missile launch prompts US assurance to allies

The US military said Friday it was aware of North Korea's latest missile launch and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to defending its allies in the region.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Pyongyang fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"We are aware of the recent missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners," the US Pacific Command said in a post on US social media platform X.

"Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region," it added.

The command later issued an update noting that it was tracking multiple launches, but the assessment of no immediate threat remained unchanged.

North Korea's launch came one day after South Korea, the US and Japan wrapped up their five-day trilateral Freedom Edge naval exercise in international waters off South Korea's southern Jeju Island.