North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles Into Sea Of Japan
KABUL: (MEP) North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, powering military tensions after its recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch, South Korea’s military says.
The missiles were fired around 5:20 am local time (8:50 pm GMT) from North Hwanghae province. The rockets reportedly flew some 500 kilometers before landing in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) northeast of the city of Wonsan in South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.
“The military is keeping close tabs on the situation and is prepared to deal with any North Korean provocations,” said the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement.
The North fired six high-caliber rockets into the sea a week ago in protest at the adoption of tough, new sanctions on Pyongyang by the U.N. Security Council.
Those sanctions were imposed as a direct result of the North’s fourth nuclear test in January and last month’s space rocket launch, which was seen as a disguised ballistic missile test.
The announcement comes after Kim Jong-un said on Tuesday North Korea now possesses nuclear warheads small enough to fit on ballistic missiles.
The kingdom made the claim by publishing photos on the front page of its ruling party newspaper that show the country’s leader standing beside what it said was miniaturised nuclear warhead during a meeting with his top scientists.
