North Korea fired a number of short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Friday, South Korea’s military said. This happened a day after the US and South Korea conducted joint drills with stealth fighter jets simulating air combat.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the launch as a provocation. It said the short-range ballistic missiles were fired from the east coast town of Wonsan and flew about 300 km before landing in the sea. Japan’s public broadcaster NHK also reported, citing a government official that it looked like a short-range missile had been launched and had already fallen.
North Korea has launched ballistic and cruise missiles as well as tactical rockets in recent months, describing them as part of a program to upgrade its defensive capabilities.
South Korea’s military did not specify the latest type of weapon, but the North’s state media has reported that its military has been testing multiple launch rocket systems that are being upgraded.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un viewed the testing of 600 mm “super-large” multiple rocket launchers and 240 mm multiple launch rockets in recent weeks and also visited production facilities, state media reported.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have escalated after the North declared the South to be “enemy No. 1” and abandoned a 2018 agreement meant to reduce hostilities along the military boundary established by a truce ending the 1950–53 Korean War.
US and South Korean officials have accused the North of shipping weapons to Russia to help Moscow replenish stocks for use in its war against Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusation.
Friday’s missile launch coincides with the visit of President Putin to Beijing where the two leaders reaffirmed their strategic alliance. It’s not clear if the timing of the launch by North Korea was deliberate and therefore intended to send a message to the West.
