North Korea launched two new ballistic missiles Friday in the direction of the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, in response to South Korean military maneuvers in the city of Pohang.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the launch of two short-range projectiles fired from North Korea’s Tongcheon County into the Sea of Japan between 11:59 a.m. and 12:18 p.m. (local time), Yonhap reported.
Although the South Korean Armed Forces have not yet determined the specifics of the launch such as the range, altitude and speed of the missiles, it has pointed out that these have been fired shortly after the end of the annual Hoguk national defense training, a large-scale maneuvers exercise initiated by the South Korean Army last October 17.
Prior to the launching of this missile, the North Korean propaganda outlet ‘Echo’ denounced the defense training as «a reckless act of confrontation that increases military instability and danger on the Korean peninsula».
This new launch by Pyongyang further escalates tensions in the region, after North Korea has in recent weeks launched several ballistic missiles in tests banned by UN Security Council resolutions, in response to U.S.-Korean military exercises it considers a rehearsal for invasion.
In fact, in the early hours of October 4, Pyongyang launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew over Japanese territory to fall into the Pacific Ocean, outside Japanese airspace, an event that had not occurred since 2017.
The United States, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), have shared their evidence that North Korea is «likely» to conduct a nuclear missile test, its first since 2017, after noting an escalation of tension in recent weeks.
