North Korea launches ballistic missiles after joint maritime drills, Seoul says
South Korean authorities said several missiles were fired near Wonsan towards the sea, prompting an emergency security meeting and coordination with the United States and Japan.
North Korea launched several ballistic missiles from its eastern coastal area near Wonsan towards the sea, South Korea’s military said, in an episode reported by Al Jazeera Global News.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launches at about 5.20am local time on Saturday. The missiles reportedly travelled about 250 kilometres, although the number and specific types were not provided and no independent confirmation was supplied.
The presidential National Security Office convened an emergency meeting involving the Defence Ministry, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other relevant agencies. South Korea also exchanged information with the United States and Japan.
US Pacific Command said the launches posed no immediate threat to US territory or its allies, while reaffirming Washington’s commitment to the defence of South Korea and other regional allies.
The launches came a day after five days of joint maritime drills involving South Korea, the United States and Japan concluded. North Korea has frequently condemned such exercises as preparations for invasion, and its defence minister recently warned of possible “strong and reflective countermeasures”.
North Korea also fired missiles into the sea on 20 August during scaled-back US-South Korea exercises. The timing of the latest launches follows the drills and previous warnings, but does not establish their motive.
