North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards its east coast, as confirmed by South Korean and Japanese authorities. This is the second missile test conducted by North Korea in one week. The missiles were fired from Kaechon, north of Pyongyang, at approximately 6:50 AM on Wednesday (21:50 GMT Tuesday), covering a distance of about 400 kilometers (249 miles) before falling into the sea. No damage has been reported.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) released a statement following the missile launch, while Japan’s coastguard also confirmed that North Korea had fired at least two ballistic missiles.
The missile tests follow a meeting between North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Russian security official Sergei Shoigu in Moscow, with some analysts speculating that the launches may be linked to ongoing military cooperation between the two countries. North Korea has denied claims of supplying weapons to Russia for use in the conflict with Ukraine.
The missile test occurred just days after North Korea tested a new 600mm multiple-launch rocket system. North Korea has been under United Nations sanctions since its first nuclear test in 2006, and tensions continue to rise over its missile and nuclear programs.
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