According to Seoul, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles on Tuesday, its second launch in three days and its first since the start of the biggest joint military exercises between South Korea and the US in five years.
In response to mounting military and nuclear threats from the North, which has recently carried out a series of increasingly provocative forbidden weapons tests, Washington and Seoul have increased defense cooperation.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff released a statement stating that “our military detected two short-range ballistic missiles fired towards the East Sea from Jangyon area in South Hwanghae province from 0741 (2241 GMT) to 0751.” The East Sea is also referred to as the Sea of Japan.
“Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional launches, while maintaining a full readiness posture through close cooperation between South Korea and the United States.”
Just a few days prior to the launch, Pyongyang fired two “strategic cruise missiles” from a submarine in what appeared to be a protest against US-South Korean military exercises.
