North Korea fires salvo of short-range ballistic missiles: Media
North Korea has fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles, Pyongyang’s second such launch in a week.
Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it had “detected and (was) analyzing several short-range ballistic missiles launched to the northeast around 06:50 (2150 GMT),” early on Wednesday, the Yonhap news agency reported.
“In preparation for additional launches, our military has strengthened monitoring and vigilance, while closely sharing information,” with allies Japan and the US, it added.
Japan also confirmed the launch.
“Vessels please pay attention to information coming ahead and if you spot fallen objects please don’t approach closer but report it to the coastguard,” it said in a statement.
On Thursday, the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into waters east of the Korean peninsula. This was the first major weapons test by the nuclear-armed country since early July.
North Korean state media later reported that this had been a test of a “new-type 600mm multiple rocket launcher.”
North Korea has staged dozens of launches this year. Pyongyang declared South Korea its “principal enemy” this year and recently moved nuclear-capable weapons to border areas.
On Friday, North Korea released images of its uranium enrichment facility for the first time, showing leader Kim Jong-un touring a nuclear facility.
The state media reported on Friday that the North Korean leader called for increasing the number of centrifuges for uranium enrichment to increase the nation’s nuclear arsenal for self-defense.
The country, which conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, has never publicly disclosed details of its uranium enrichment facility.
Such facilities produce highly enriched uranium by spinning the original material in centrifuges at high speeds.
Kim toured the Nuclear Weapons Institute and the “production base of weapon-grade nuclear materials,” according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The KCNA did not provide the facility’s location or visit date.
Pyongyang, which has been under harsh sanctions by the United States and the United Nations Security Council for years over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, says such military maneuvers amount to a rehearsal for invasion.
Kim has repeatedly said that Pyongyang is strengthening its armed forces to confront the US and its regional allies in a war that could “break out at any time” on the Korean Peninsula.
Kim has repeatedly said that Pyongyang is strengthening its armed forces to confront the US and its regional allies in a war that could “break out at any time” on the Korean Peninsula.
