North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles in its fourth test launch in just a week as tensions rise after Kamala Harris visit to the DMZ
- North Korea launched a missile off the east coast of South Korea yesterday
- It is the fourth missile launch in the space of a week, South Korean military said
- The launches came before and after a visit by US Vice President Kamala Harris
North Korea has fired ballistic missiles towards the east coast of South Korea as US Vice President Kamala Harris visited the country this week.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch was Pyongyang’s fourth in a week as it ratchets up tension in the Korean peninsula.
It comes after the United States and South Korea held the Ulchi Freedom Shield – the biggest joint military drill in about five years.
Japan‘s coast guard also reported at least two suspected ballistic missile tests by Pyongyang.
NHK, citing a government source, said that a second missile had landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea near South Korea and Japan this week
The missile launches came before and after a four-day visit by US Vice President Kamala Harris
Vice President Harris met South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol – the pair issued a joint statement condemning the missile launches
North Korea fired missiles before and after Harris’ visit to South Korea, extending a record pace in weapons testing this year as it increases the threat of a credible nuclear power that can strike the United States and its allies.
Pyongyang also conducted the first intercontinental ballistic missile test for the first time since 2017.
Nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches by North Korea have long been banned by the United Nations Security Council.
The South Korean military did not give details of the travel range, height and speed of the missiles.
The isolated country has completed preparations for a nuclear test, a window which could open between China’s party congress in October and the U.S. mid-term elections in November, South Korean lawmakers said on Wednesday.
Kamala Harris met South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul during her four-day trip earlier this week to discuss the alliance between their two countries.
They issued a joint statement condemning the ‘provocative nuclear rhetoric and ballistic missile launches’ by North Korea.
The leaders also ‘reaffirmed [their] alignment… and goal of the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula’.
The South Korean Chiefs of Staff said: ‘South Korean military detected two short-range ballistic missiles fired from Sunchon, South Pyongan province, toward the east coast between 8:48pm [11:48 GMT] and 8:57pm [11:57 GMT]
‘Amid strengthened surveillance and vigilance, our military maintains full preparedness while working closely with the US.’
The US and South Korea carried out their biggest joint military exercises in five years earlier this week