(Seoul) North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Monday, the South Korean military reported, a day after Pyongyang warned of “fatal consequences” that could result from joint exercises conducted by Seoul and its allies.
A first short-range projectile was launched at 5:05 a.m. local time (4:05 p.m. Eastern Time), followed by a second 10 minutes later, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
“The (first) short-range ballistic missile traveled approximately 600 kilometers,” the statement said, adding that the second traveled 120 kilometers.
“Our military has stepped up surveillance in anticipation of further launches,” the source said, adding that he had passed on information about the incidents to the United States and Japan.
“The characteristics (of these shots) are currently the subject of a detailed analysis by the South Korean and American authorities,” added the same source.
They come a few days after North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a missile with multiple warheads, with South Korea for its part ensuring that the projectile had exploded in flight.
On Sunday, Pyongyang called the joint military exercises led by South Korea, Japan and the United States “the Asian version of NATO,” warning of “fatal consequences.”
These three days of military exercises, called “Freedom Edge”, took place from Thursday to Sunday last week. They focused on air defense, submarine warfare and cyber defense and were also intended to prepare for ballistic missile launches.
The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Japanese guided-missile destroyer JS Atago and South Korean KF-16 fighter jet were deployed for the exercises.
“Don’t appear weak”
Pyongyang systematically criticizes this type of military maneuvers which it considers as intended to prepare an invasion of its territory.
Seoul rejected Pyongyang’s accusations on Sunday, stressing that the latest drills were part of regular joint exercises between the three allied countries.
South Korea is concerned about the North’s rapprochement with its isolated neighbor, Russia.
North Korea is accused of violating arms control measures by supplying weapons to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea in June to meet with leader Kim Jong-un and the two countries signed a mutual defense agreement.
A major ruling party meeting is currently taking place in North Korea, opened by leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported on Saturday.
“In North Korean policy, as in military policy, the best defense is often a good offense,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.
“These missile launches are likely Mr Kim’s regime’s way of making up for recent failed tests and impressing the public at ruling party meetings.”
“Pyongyang is also determined not to appear weak as South Korea conducts military exercises with Japan and the United States.”
Relations between the two Koreas are currently at their lowest point in years, with Pyongyang intensifying its weapons testing while sending trash-filled balloons to the South in retaliation for propaganda campaigns against the North Korean regime by Korea from South.