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The short-range ballistic missiles were fired from the latest launcher, which can, North Korean authorities claimed, carry out a “tactical nuclear strike” capable of wiping out enemy airbases entirely. It was the second North Korean launch in 48 hours.
On Saturday North Korea fired one of its powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) which Tokyo said landed in its exclusive economic zone and prompted Washington and Seoul to conduct joint air exercises.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called for a UN Security Council meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, to discuss the latest North Korean actions.
The South Korean armed forces said they detected the launch of the missiles fired from South Pyongan province between 07:00-07:11 (22:00-22:11 GMT).
They called the launches “a serious provocation that undermines the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and called on Pyongyang to cease “immediately.”
Pyongyang pointed out that the Korean People’s Army (KPA) fired Monday’s shots in response to joint exercises by the United States and South Korea, and blamed those countries for the deterioration of the security situation on the Korean peninsula, according to the state agency. KCNA.
“With today’s (Monday) firing exercise, which involved multiple and super-large rocket launchers, tactical nuclear strike means, the KPA demonstrated its full ability to deter and respond” to joint air exercises, KCNA added.
Meanwhile, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un warned that her country closely monitors the actions of Washington and Seoul and threatened a “corresponding response” to the joint air maneuvers.
“The frequency of using the Pacific as our firing range depends on the actions of the US forces,” Kim Yo Jong said in the statement released by the state news agency KCNA.
According to Pyongyang, the launch of an ICBM on Saturday was a “surprise” maneuver that it said demonstrated its ability to carry out a “deadly nuclear counterattack.”
Such a claim is intended to counter skepticism about North Korean war technology and prove “not just the development of strategic and tactical nuclear forces, but the operational capability to use them,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.
Japan said Saturday’s ICBM flew 66 minutes and fell into its exclusive economic zone.
In response, the United States and South Korea held joint air exercises on Sunday, including a strategic bomber and stealth fighter aircraft.
