Two days after resuming testing with an intercontinental ballistic missile launch, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, according to the South Korean military.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea stated in a statement that the two launches were made from a western coastal town just north of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on Monday morning. Also, it said that South Korea increased its monitoring posture and maintained a readiness in close conjunction with the US.
The coast guard of Japan also issued alerts over what it described as potential ballistic missile launches by North Korea.
According to the coast guard, who was citing data from the Defense Ministry, the first missile is thought to have already touched down in the ocean. It fell beyond the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone, according to Kyodo News.
The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong, also released a statement on Monday morning warning of armed protests against what she dubbed US deployments of vital military assets to the Korean Peninsula. She referred to Americans as “the craziest maniacs.”
In a statement broadcast by state media, Kim Yo Jong stated, “The frequency of utilizing the Pacific as our fire range depends upon the action type of the U.S. troops.” “We are well aware of the recent escalation in the movement of U.S. troops’ strategic strike means around the Korean Peninsula.”
She didn’t go into more detail, but it’s possible she was alluding to the US B-1B long-range, supersonic bombers’ flyby of South Korea and Japan on Sunday during separate training exercises.
The Hwasong-15 ICBM was launched off the east coast of North Korea on Saturday, the nation’s first missile test since January 1. The B-1B deployment was in retaliation for that action.
The ICBM test, according to North Korea’s official media, was intended to increase the country’s ability to launch “fatal” nuclear attacks, as well as to confirm the weapon’s dependability and battle preparedness.
Kim Yo Jong vowed to make more severe moves in a previous speech on Sunday in response to forthcoming military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
While the partners claim such drills are defensive in nature, North Korea views routine South Korea-U.S. military exercises as invasion practice.
»Days after its ICBM test, North Korea launches two more missiles«