The latest wave of tests coincides with major military exercises by the United States and South Korea.
North Korea has confirmed it launched two missiles that it says were part of an exercise designed to train military units to conduct missions at any time and “destroy the enemy” if necessary.
State news agency KCNA described the launches as “demonstration exercises” on Wednesday.
It said the two tactical ballistic missiles were fired from ground to ground from the west coast in South Hwanghae province, flying some 611 kilometers (380 mi) across the country before hitting a target on a small island off the northeast coast.
“Saying that they will surely destroy the enemy if they fight him, the unit commander thoroughly decided to have the ability to fully perform his duty of fire attack at any time by further intensifying the training of each fire attack company,” said KCNA. .
South Korea’s military announced Tuesday it had detected North Korean launches, the latest to take place during the 11 days of joint exercises between South Korea and the United States known as Freedom Shield, which Pyongyang regards as a rehearsal for an invasion and proof of the two countries’ animosity.
In recent days, Pyongyang has tested weapons, including a submarine-launched weapon and short-range ballistic missiles.
North Korea conducted a record number of missile launches last year as it accelerated efforts to modernize its arsenal. It has also been observed making repairs at its nuclear weapons test site, raising concerns that it may also be planning its first nuclear test since 2017.
South Korea’s military strongly condemned North Korea, calling the repeated missile launches a serious provocation that threatens peace and security in the region, and a US State Department spokesman criticized the launches as violating multiple UN resolutions. United Nations Security Council.
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