N. Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles into East Sea

<p>This photo, taken on Sept. 25, 2022, shows a news report on a North Korean missile launch being aired on a TV screen at Seoul Station. <em>(Yonhap)</em></p>

This photo, taken on Sept. 25, 2022, shows a news report on a North Korean missile launch being aired on a TV screen at Seoul Station. (Yonhap)

SEOUL – North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Saturday, South Korea's military said, in its fourth such provocation in less than a week.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launches from the Sunan area in Pyongyang between 6:45 a.m. and 7:03 a.m. and that the missiles flew about 350 km. at apogees of about 30 km. at top speeds of Mach 6.

The launches came just hours before South Korea was set to hold an event marking Armed Forces Day with its key military assets on display.

The previous day, the South, the United States, and Japan staged an anti-submarine warfare exercise in the East Sea.

"The recent series of North Korea's ballistic missiles is an act of significant provocation that undermines peace not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in the international community, and a clear breach of UN Security Council resolutions," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.

It added, "Our military will maintain a firm readiness posture while tracking and monitoring related movements in close cooperation with the US in preparation against additional provocations."

JCS chairman, Gen. Kim Seung-kyum, and Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of the South Korea - US Combined Forces Command, held virtual consultations over the launches.

In a statement, the US Indo-Pacific Command said the North's move "highlights the destabilizing impact of the DPRK's unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs."

It reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to the defense of its Northeast Asian allies.

The latest launches followed earlier provocations on Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

On Thursday, US Vice President Kamala Harris made a daylong visit to South Korea, during which she met with President Yoon Suk-yeol and toured the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides Korea.

While here, she said Washington would do "everything" in its power to ensure its security commitment to the Asian ally. (Yonhap)



 

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