Ashish Ranjan
North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles: Monday morning, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its eastern coast. The missiles were launched from North Hwanghae province at 7:47 a.m. (Sunday, 2247 GMT), according to the South Korean military. The launch is the latest in a series of launches occurring during US and South Korean military exercises.
According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the missiles were launched from an inland western region south of the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.It traveled approximately 370 kilometers before landing at sea.
According to Japanese media, both missiles appear to have landed outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
STRONG PROTEST AGAINST NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCH
In the meantime, the South Korean military “strongly condemned” the launches as a grave provocation in violation of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and demanded an urgent halt.
The JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff) stated in a statement that it would continue military drills with the United States as planned, while keeping a close eye on North Korea’s various activities.The Japanese government also lodged a “strong protest” with North Korea, claiming that its missile launches endanger Japan, the region, and the international community.
North Korea announced on Friday that it had tested a new nuclear-capable underwater attack drone, while leader Kim Jong Un demanded that South Korea and the United States cease their joint military exercises.
The allies concluded their annual springtime exercises, known as Freedom Shield 23, last week, but other field training, including amphibious landing maneuvers involving a U.S. amphibious assault ship, continues.
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Pyongyang has long objected to allied military exercises, claiming that they are preparations for an invasion of the North.The United States and South Korea claim that the exercises are defensive.
