North Korea fires two ballistic missiles – Seoul – RT World News
The launches came a day after Pyongyang tested cruise missiles from a submarine amid US military exercises.
South Korea’s military said it detected two short-range ballistic missile launches from the North on Tuesday morning. The latest show of force by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) came as Washington and Seoul began major joint military exercises on the peninsula on Monday.
Pyongyang has repeatedly said it views the drills as nothing less than preparation for an attack on its territory.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying that rockets launched from the southwest region of Jangyon traveled 620 kilometers, before landing at sea off the east coast.
Seoul’s military condemned the launches”as a major provocative act that undermines peace and stability not only on the Korean peninsula, but also in the international community.“The statement quoted by Yonhap also noted that Seoul will closely monitor its neighbor for any signs of”additional provocations.”
On Monday, Korea’s Central News Agency in Pyongyang (KCNA) reported that the country had launched cruise missiles from a submarine the day before – in what would have been the first such test by the North.
According to KCNA, successful test shots “confirmed the reliability of the weapon.“The media said the exercise illustrated progress made by the DPRK in ensuring it has”different“delivery options for her”deterrents to nuclear war.”
The latest launches come amid massive military exercises between the United States and South Korea, dubbed Freedom Shield, which began on Monday. The two allies spoke of a growing threat from the North, which fired a record number of missiles in 2022.
The current exercises follow joint maneuvers conducted earlier this year, some of which included US B-52H strategic bombers.
The DPRK had repeatedly warned Washington and Seoul against holding the exercises, accusing them of repeating a war of aggression against the North.
Last Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called on his military to be ready to engage in “real“fight”at any time,” as reported by KCNA.
RT
