Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean military has reported that North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea on Sunday, with one missile flying over 360 kilometers, possibly indicating the use of a super-large multiple-barrel rocket launcher (KN-25).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean military detected the launch of the missiles from the Pyongyang area around 7:10 a.m. The missiles were reportedly aimed at an uninhabited island east of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which has been used as a target for short-range ballistic missile tests by the North.
The South Korean military has determined that the island is located approximately 360 kilometers east of Pyongyang. If the launchers were aimed southward, the range of the missiles would cover major cities such as Seoul and Daegu, as well as military facilities in cities like Chilgok and Gunsan.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea stated that the North Korean military launched several missiles, with Japan’s Defense Ministry reporting that the launches began around 7:10 a.m. and lasted for about four minutes. The highest altitude reached by the missiles was approximately 100 kilometers.
A South Korean military official said that the North’s missile launches could be in response to the recent Double Dragon joint amphibious exercise conducted by South Korea and the United States. The official also suggested that the launches could be aimed at testing weapons for export to Russia. Additionally, some experts believe that the North’s missile launches may be part of a show of force in support of the joint military exercises between China and Russia.
The JCS said that the military detected the North Korean launches immediately and conducted tracking and surveillance, closely sharing intelligence with U.S. and Japanese authorities. The JCS also condemned the North’s missile launches as a provocation that poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.
This marks the first time North Korea has launched a ballistic missile in 73 days, with the last launch occurring on July 1. At that time, the North claimed to have test-fired a tactical ballistic missile equipped with a new high-weight warhead and stated that it would conduct another launch within July, but did not follow through.
Some opinions suggest that the North’s recent launches of balloons filled with garbage and the missile launches on Sunday may indicate a restart of composite provocations. Others believe that with the U.S. presidential election approaching, North Korea may increase its provocations to assert its presence.
The JCS stated that the military is analyzing the specific parameters of the missiles launched by North Korea and is closely monitoring the situation. The JCS also called on the international community to take strong measures against the North’s provocations.
The North’s missile launches come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with concerns over the possibility of a full-scale conflict. The international community, including the United States, South Korea, and Japan, has repeatedly called on North Korea to refrain from further provocations and to return to negotiations for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.
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