The military in Seoul reported that North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into waters east of the Korean peninsula on Thursday, marking the nuclear-armed nation’s first weapons test since early July.
This year, the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has conducted scores of rocket launches; experts speculate that this testing campaign may be connected to North Korea’s purported illegal transfer of weapons to Russia, an ally, for use in Ukraine.
Although Pyongyang has denied engaging in any sanctions-busting arms transaction with Russia, it has recently relocated nuclear-capable weapons to border areas and labeled South Korea its “principal enemy” due to a protracted diplomatic impasse.
Seoul’s Joint Chief of Staff said it had detected multiple “short-range ballistic missiles launched into the East Sea around 07:10 from Pyongyang today (2210 GMT on Wednesday),” referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.
The missiles splashed down after flying around 360 kilometres (220 miles), the JCS said, adding it had “immediately detected, tracked, and monitored” the launch and was sharing information with allies Tokyo and Washington.
“We strongly condemn North Korea’s missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” it added.
The launch was also confirmed by Japan’s defense ministry, and the country had “already lodged a protest with North Korea,” according to outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
It is the first apparent weapons test by Pyongyang since July 1 and was carried out a few days after the reclusive nation commemorated a significant milestone marking the establishment of the ruling system.
On September 9, the day of its founding, North Korea has consistently fired missiles into the sky. In 2016, the country carried out its sixth nuclear test on this day.
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