North Korea has launched multiple cruise missiles off its east coast, marking its second such launch in less than a week, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The missiles were fired at around 8 a.m., and South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing the situation. The exact number of missiles and their range have not been specified.
This development comes shortly after North Korea fired what it referred to as a new strategic cruise missile named “Pulhwasal-3-31.” The recent launches indicate a trend of increased confrontational behavior by North Korea.
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Officials in Washington and Seoul, however, do not currently see immediate signs of imminent military action by North Korea. The country is likely to continue or even escalate provocative steps following advancements in ballistic missile development, strengthened cooperation with Russia and China, and the abandonment of its decades-long goal of peacefully reunifying with South Korea.
While UN Security Council sanctions do not prohibit North Korea from testing conventional cruise missiles, South Korea’s defense minister Shin Won-sik condemned the recent launches, considering them a serious threat to his country and beyond.
In a separate development, North Korea’s state media KCNA denounced a series of military drills conducted in recent weeks by U.S. and South Korean troops, warning of “merciless” consequences. The ongoing situation is being closely monitored for any additional signs or activities from North Korea.
The latest launch came a day after a Chinese delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong returned home following a three-day visit to Pyongyang, during which both sides vowed to boost tactical cooperation and defend common interests.
In a separate dispatch on Sunday, KCNA said a North Korean delegation headed by sports minister Kim Il Guk left on Saturday for China.
