North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles into the East Sea yesterday, South Korea’s military said, days after leader Kim Jong Un called for a nuclear weapons buildup.
“Our military detected several short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area into the East Sea around 07:10 (yesterday),” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters.
The missiles flew roughly 225 miles before splashing down in the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. The JCS said it was analyzing the launch and closely sharing information with the United States and Japan.
Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said that it detected the launch and was consulting with regional allies and partners.
“The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts,” the command said in a statement. “While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, we continue to monitor the situation.”
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.
The launch was the first since July 1, when North Korea fired what it claimed were missiles carrying a new “super-large warhead.”
North Korea this week celebrated its 76th anniversary of its founding, and leader Kim Jong Un called for a nuclear weapons buildup in response to threats posed by the United States and South Korea.