South Korea’s military described the incident as a potential test of export-oriented weapons, with North Korea firing a flurry of short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on Thursday that North Korean forces launched the missiles from a location close to the eastern port city of Wonsan between 8:10 am (23:10 GMT on Wednesday), and 9:20 am (00:20 GMT), respectively.
The missiles landed in the Sea of Japan with up to 800 kilometers (500 miles), according to the JSC.
Following the firing of a number of different missile types in January and March, North Korea has conducted its fourth round of ballistic missile tests this year.
Our military is closely monitoring various North Korean activities to stop any misinterpretation (by the North), according to a statement from the JSC.
According to a briefing from a JSC representative, the launches may have been conducted to evaluate the “performance or flight stability” of planned missile exports.
Although Pyongyang has been a major supporter of Russia in its conflict in Ukraine, Lee did not specify which nation might receive the missiles.
According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, North Korea has sent missiles, artillery, and about 15, 000 soldiers to Russia to support its war effort.
The intelligence service claims that so far in the conflict, about 4,700 North Korean soldiers have died or been injured.
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, was quoted by state media as saying that his forces would “assist in cooperation with the Russian armed forces” to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area.”
Following President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to the reclusive nation last year, North Korea and Russia signed a landmark mutual defense agreement.
Source: Aljazeera
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