North Korea has fired several short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan. The missiles flew about 250 km before falling into the water.
Yonhap reports this, citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
According to the South Korean military, the launches were detected at around 5:20am local time on 12 September. The missiles travelled nearly 250 km before falling into the sea.
South Korean, US and Japanese intelligence services had been tracking preparations for the launches in North Korea in advance, as well as the launches themselves and the missiles’ flight. The countries shared relevant information.
The JCS said the military continues to closely monitor North Korea’s actions and remains ready to respond to possible provocations.
In Seoul, officials believe Pyongyang this time carried out several successive launches of Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles, as well as rounds from 600mm multiple rocket launch systems.
The launch took place the day after the end of the joint US–South Korea–Japan Freedom Edge military drills. The five-day trilateral exercise concluded on 11 September.
Pyongyang described the drills as provocative and allegedly aimed at preparing for an invasion of North Korea, and threatened countermeasures.
The new missile launch also came ahead of a planned summit between US and Chinese leaders. The situation around North Korea is expected to be one of the topics at the forthcoming meeting in Washington between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
North Korea’s previous ballistic missile launch took place on 20 August.