North Korea fired eight short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its east coast on Sunday, according to information from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The missiles were launched from the Sunan area, near the North Korean capital Pyongyang, into waters east of the Korean peninsula between 9:08 am and 9:43 am local time in Seoul.
South Korean national security chief Kim Sung-han will hold a meeting of the National Security Council’s standing committee to discuss the launch, the presidential office said.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s office also confirmed a launch via social media, saying North Korea had launched a “possible ballistic missile”. It was further stated that the public will be informed as soon as more information becomes available.
The missile marks North Korea’s 17th launch this year. The last one, on May 25, took place as US President Joe Biden concluded his trip to Asia and returned to his country.
In response to today’s launch, the South Korean military has stepped up its vigilance and is “closely cooperating and maintaining a posture of full readiness with the US,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The launch also comes a day after the South Korean and US navies completed a three-day combined exercise in the waters off Okinawa, Japan, South Korean military confirmed to CNN .
In a press release, the US Navy said it has deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, along with Carrier Strike Group 5.
Also involved in the exercise was the South Korean Navy’s ROKS Sejong The Great and the amphibious assault ship Marado, the US Navy said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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