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North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Monday, further escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula just over a week after Pyongyang tested what it described as a hypersonic weapons system.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles at about 9:20 am local time from the Pyongyang area. According to Yonhap News Agency, the projectiles travelled more than 900 kilometres before falling into the sea.
South Korea’s military said it had strengthened surveillance for possible additional launches and was maintaining a heightened state of readiness. Seoul also said it was sharing intelligence on the missile activity with the United States and Japan.
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The latest North Korean missile launches followed an October 3 test from Wonsan. Pyongyang said that the launch formed part of training for troops responsible for operating its hypersonic strategic weapons system.
Korean Central News Agency/KCNA via KNS
Japan also detected two suspected ballistic missiles during Monday’s launches. Japanese authorities said the missiles appeared to have landed outside the country’s exclusive economic zone.
The launches come as South Korea develops its own advanced missile capabilities. Seoul conducted its first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle on Thursday, demonstrating technology designed to travel at high speeds while manoeuvring towards a target.
Military tensions have also increased following a September 21 land mine explosion inside the Demilitarised Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers, two of them seriously.
South Korea accused North Korean troops of deliberately planting the mines after an investigation conducted with the United Nations Command. North Korea denied responsibility, accused Seoul of fabricating the findings and warned that it could retaliate against any military response.
North Korea has not publicly commented on Monday’s ballistic missile launches.
