On Monday, South Korea’s military stated that North Korea launched two ballistic missiles, the latest in a string of weapons tests by Pyongyang that has strained relations with Seoul.
In a statement, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “A short-range ballistic missile was launched in the early morning hours”.
JCS went on to say, “About 10 minutes later, a second missile, this one as yet unidentified, was detected”.
“Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for further launches”, the Joint Chiefs of Staff continued, noting that it had shared information about the incidents with the United States and Japan.
North Korea did not offer immediate confirmation of the launch of ballistic missiles.
Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with the North ratcheting up weapons testing while bombing the South with trash-filled balloons.
South Korea is concerned about North Korea’s improving relations with its isolated neighbor, Russia.
Pyongyang also condemned joint military drills between South Korea, Japan, and the United States, calling them an ‘Asian version of NATO’ and warning of ‘fatal consequences’.
The three-day ‘Freedom Edge’ drills covered ballistic missile and air defences, anti-submarine warfare, and defensive cyber training.
North Korea has always condemned similar combined exercises as rehearsals for an invasion, but Seoul claimed Sunday that the latest exercises were a continuation of defensive drills held regularly for years.
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