North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile into the East Sea from the Wonsan area in Gangwon Province at around 5 p.m. today (August 6), the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced.

This marks North Korea's first ballistic missile launch in 42 days and the 10th of this year.

The launch comes ahead of the South Korea-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise scheduled to be held later this month.

The National Security Office held an emergency meeting and urged North Korea to immediately halt its provocations.