On Tuesday, North Korea launched various projectiles, including short-range missiles, toward its western seas. The South Korean military announced the incident, providing specific details.
The missiles, identified as close-range ballistic missiles, were fired around 1 p.m. local time. The launch site was Chongju, a coastal area located in North Pyongan Province. These missiles traveled approximately 50 miles before landing in the Yellow Sea, as reported by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul.
With an estimated reach of about 185 miles, these short-range missiles represent a significant threat. The South Korean report also mentioned that North Korean forces were observed firing artillery munitions during the exercise.
In response, South Korea is collaborating with U.S. analysts to gather detailed information regarding the missile launches. A statement from the military emphasized the increased surveillance and monitoring efforts in anticipation of potential further launches. South Korea is actively sharing intelligence with the United States and Japan, ensuring a robust readiness posture.
According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, this marks the first instance of missile tests by North Korea since their previous launch on April 19. On that occasion, short-range ballistic missiles were fired into the Sea of Japan, a region referred to as the East Sea by both Koreas. Similarly, the Yellow Sea is known as the West Sea in both nations.
Newsweek has sought comments from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command via email. As updates unfold, further information about the situation will be provided accordingly.
This story is developing and will be updated as new information arrives.