According to Seoul’s military, North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles on Saturday, adding a concluding salvo to Pyongyang’s record-breaking barrage of launches this year.
Military tensions on the Korean peninsula have grown dramatically in 2022, as the North has conducted weapons tests in violation of international sanctions virtually every month, including the launch of its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile to date.
The launch occurs a day after South Korea successfully tested a solid-fuel space launch vehicle, and a week after five North Korean drones infiltrated South Korean airspace.
The military of South Korea reported that it has detected three short-range ballistic missiles launched by North Korea from Chunghwa County, North Hwanghae Province into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. The missiles traveled around 350 kilometers before crashing, the report added.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, “Our military maintains a full readiness posture while cooperating closely with the United States and enhancing monitoring and alertness.”
Monday’s North Korean drone intrusion was the first of its kind in five years, prompting an apology from Seoul’s defense minister after a five-hour operation failed to bring down a single drone.
President Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea described the incident as “intolerable” and stated that the South should ensure that Pyongyang understands that “provocations are always faced with severe consequences.”
