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South Korea has revealed that its nuclear-armed neighbour, North Korea, test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the Sinpo area of North Korea on Sunday.
“Our military detected several short-range ballistic missiles fired into the East Sea from the Sinpo area of North Korea at around 6:10 am (2110 GMT),” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to a body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.
The missile launch is the latest in a recent flurry of launches by Pyongyang. The previous launches, which were carried out in recent weeks, included ballistic missiles, anti-warship cruise missiles and cluster munitions.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles fired on Sunday flew approximately 140 kilometres (87 miles), adding that South Korean and US intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of their exact specifications.
“Pyongyang must immediately halt its successive missile provocations that are heightening tensions,” Seoul’s defence ministry said in a statement.
The defence ministry also urged North Korea to “actively engage in the South Korean government’s efforts to establish peace”.
The Chiefs of Staff added that Seoul was maintaining a “firm combined defence posture” with its security ally, the United States, which stations about 28,000 troops in South Korea to help it defend against military threats from North Korea, and will “respond overwhelmingly to any provocation”.
According to analysts, the missile fire tests signalled Pyongyang’s latest rejection of Seoul’s attempts to repair strained ties.
Seoul had expressed regret over civilian drone incursions into the North in January. Kim Yo Jong, North Korea’s leader’s sister, described the gesture as a “very fortunate and wise behaviour”.
In April, a senior North Korean official labelled South Korea as “the enemy state most hostile” to Pyongyang, a label which was previously used by Kim Jong Un.
