North Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles, Seoul says
(VOVWORLD) - North Korea fired a number of short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Friday, South Korea's military said, a day after the US and South Korea conducted joint drills with stealth fighter jets simulating air combat.
 North Korea test-fires a ballistic missile on April 2, 2024. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the launch as a provocation. It said the projectiles were fired from the east coast town of Wonsan and flew about 300 km (186 miles) before landing in the sea.
North Korea has launched ballistic and cruise missiles as well as tactical rockets in recent months, describing them as part of a program to upgrade its defensive capabilities.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have increased since the North last year scrapped a 2018 pact aimed at de-escalating tensions near the military border drawn up under a truce ending the 1950-53 Korean War.