Pyongyang:Seoul North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday, as announced by South Korea's military. This move is perceived as a response to South Korea's recent successful test of a hypersonic missile.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the missile launch at approximately 920 a.m. from the Pyongyang area, with at least one missile traveling over 900 kilometers. The JCS spokesperson, Jang Do-young, indicated that the launch appears to protest against South Korea's hypersonic glide vehicle test and showcases North Korea's missile capabilities under its plan to strengthen defense.
Jang declined to specify whether the missiles were hypersonic or intermediate-range, citing the need for further analysis. Meanwhile, South Korea's foreign ministry criticized the launches as violating U.N. Security Council resolutions, describing them as unhelpful for managing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. A ministry official noted that South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have a system to quickly share information and assessments regarding North Korean missile activities.
South Korea's test of a hypersonic glide vehicle last Thursday was seemingly a demonstration of strength following a landmine incident near the Demilitarized Zone, attributed to North Korea by a joint investigation with the U.N. Command. North Korea has denied involvement, claiming the findings were fabricated.
Hypersonic missiles, capable of traveling at speeds of Mach 5 or higher, pose significant challenges to existing missile defense systems due to their speed and maneuverability. This latest missile launch by North Korea follows a previous launch from the Wonsan area on October 3, and another from Pyongyang on August 20.