North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Monday, South Korea’s military said, marking Pyongyang’s fourth missile launch in a month amid rising tensions between the two countries.
The missiles, which appeared to be of different types, were launched from near Pyongyang at around 9.20am local time, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
One type of missile travelled more than 900km, the JCS said.
Japan’s coast guard earlier reported that North Korea had fired two unidentified projectiles believed to be ballistic missiles, adding that both appeared to have already fallen.
South Korea’s National Security Office convened an emergency meeting following the launches, condemning them as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions and urging Pyongyang to stop immediately.
North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
Tensions Rise After South Korea’s Hypersonic Missile Test
Monday’s launches came amid heightened tensions following South Korea’s recent weapons tests. Last week, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung oversaw the country’s first test-firing of a hypersonic missile, an unusual public demonstration of military capability by a sitting president.
A JCS spokesperson described North Korea’s latest launches as an apparent show of force in response to the successful test, as well as an intentional demonstration of its own missile capabilities.
North Korea last launched a ballistic missile on October 3, when state media KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong Un had supervised a hypersonic missile test.
The latest developments follow a landmine explosion near the inter-Korean border last month that injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul accused Pyongyang of planting the mines and demanded an apology, while North Korea rejected the accusation and accused South Korea of provocation.
Pyongyang has conducted missile tests on more than 10 occasions this year, including four in the past month.
Missile Tests May Strengthen Pyongyang’s Position Ahead Of Potential Trump Meeting
Song Seong-jong, a professor at Daejeon University in Seoul and a former South Korean Defence Ministry official, said the unusually frequent missile tests could be aimed at strengthening North Korea’s negotiating position ahead of a potential summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump.
“They definitely need to raise the value of their status before meeting Trump,” Song said.
The latest launches add to regional security concerns as both Koreas continue to demonstrate their military capabilities.
