South Korea’s military confirmed that North Korea launched two ballistic missiles on Monday – the latest in a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang that have soured relations with Seoul.
South Korea’s military Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that a short-range ballistic missile was launched early in the morning. About 10 minutes later, a second missile was detected, which has not yet been identified, the statement said.
“Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance to prepare for further launches,” the JCS said, adding that it has shared information about these incidents with the US and Japan.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not immediately confirm the launches.
Last week, North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a multi-warhead missile, but South Korea said the launch ended in an air explosion.
Relations between the two Koreas are at their worst in years, with North Korea increasing weapons testing and bombarding South Korea with trash balloons.
Pyongyang says the messages are in retaliation for balloons filled with anti-regime propaganda leaflets sent to the North by Southern activists.
In response to North Korea’s continued launches, South Korea has completely suspended the tension-reducing military treaty. At the same time, it has resumed propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts and live-fire exercises near the border.
South Korea is also concerned about North Korea’s growing ties with its isolated neighbour Russia.
North Korea is accused of violating arms control measures by supplying weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit with leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang in June in a show of unity.
On Sunday, Pyongyang denounced joint military exercises by South Korea, Japan and the United States, calling them an “Asian version of NATO” and warning of “fatal consequences”.
The three-day “Freedom Edge” exercise included preparations for ballistic missile and air defense, anti-submarine warfare and defensive cyber training.
Pyongyang has always described such joint exercises as invasion rehearsals, but Seoul said on Sunday the latest drills were an extension of defensive exercises held regularly for years.
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