North Korea fires short-range missiles for the first time in two months – World

SEOUL: North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Thursday, the South Korean military said, adding it was the first such launch in more than two months.

The missiles were launched from Pyongyang at around 7:10 a.m. (Wednesday 10:10 p.m. CET) and traveled a distance of about 360 kilometers before sinking into the sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, without providing further details on the number of missiles fired.

“We strongly condemn North Korea's missile launch. It is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula,” it said in a statement.

The Japanese Defense Ministry said at least two ballistic missiles from North Korea flew more than 350 kilometers and reached an altitude of about 100 kilometers.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited Seoul last week to reaffirm ties with South Korea ahead of his impending resignation, said Tokyo strongly condemned the launch and had lodged a protest against North Korea.

North Korea sends more balloons into space as Kim's sister warns of 'new countermeasures'

“We continue to make the greatest monitoring efforts and work with the United States and South Korea,” Kishida said.

The suspected missile apparently landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone and there were no reports of damage, Japanese media reported.

North Korea last fired a missile on July 1, and said it had successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a 4.5-ton super-large warhead.

The latest launch came just days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to produce “exponentially” more nuclear weapons and ensure they would be ready for use “at any time.”

Late last month, Kim oversaw the test of an improved 240mm rocket launcher system that “demonstrated its superiority in mobility and strike concentration.”

He also inspected new “suicide drones” and called for the development of artificial intelligence for unmanned vehicles.

North Korea has also been sending balloons filled with garbage across the border into the South in recent days. This campaign began in May in retaliation for the anti-Pyongyang leaflets that South Korean activists flew into the country using bouncy castles.

North Korea is accused of supplying Russia with weapons such as drones and ballistic missiles for the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine and the United States, as well as other countries and independent analysts, claim that Kim is supporting Russia in the war by supplying rockets and missiles and in return receives economic and other military aid from Moscow. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied these allegations.