North Korea Fires Ten Ballistic Missiles Off Its Eastern Coast
The weapons barrage brings South Korean military targets within range days after Pyongyang suffered a failed military satellite launch.
North Korea launched approximately 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its eastern coast early Thursday, according to the South Korean military.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the weapons were fired at about 6:14 a.m. local time from the Sunan district near Pyongyang. The projectiles flew roughly 350 kilometers, or about 217 miles, before coming down in eastern waters.
The reported flight distance places Seoul and several major South Korean military installations directly within striking range. South Korean defense analysts said the weapons were likely super-large 600mm multiple rocket launchers.
Japanese authorities also confirmed the launches and said the missiles landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The Japan Coast Guard issued maritime safety advisories to ships and reported no damage to vessels or aircraft.
South Korea’s military reported detecting North Korean GPS jamming signals across northwestern border islands in the West Sea shortly after the barrage.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff called the firing a provocation threatening peace and stability and pledged an overwhelming response to aggression. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida strongly protested the launches and said they violated United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi warned that Pyongyang would likely continue carrying out missile tests and other provocations.
North Korean Foreign Ministry official Kim Son Gyong said military reconnaissance satellite launches were an inevitable measure of self-defense. He criticized United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for calling meetings over the satellite program.
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, defended hostile border actions against South Korean complaints and promised more steps could follow.
The barrage occurred three days after North Korea failed to put a second reconnaissance satellite, the Malligyong-1-1, into orbit. That rocket exploded roughly two minutes into flight on Monday because of engine problems.
Kim Jong Un acknowledged the setback at the Academy of Defence Sciences and told researchers to expand space-based reconnaissance capabilities. On Wednesday, North Korea sent about 260 balloons carrying trash and manure into South Korea in retaliation against activist leaflets.
Multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from conducting launches that use ballistic missile technology.
South Korea placed its troops on heightened vigilance while coordinating intelligence operations with the United States and Japan. The United Nations Security Council scheduled an open session to review North Korea’s missile and satellite-launch activities.
