North Korea fires two unidentified projectiles, says Seoul

Text by: RFI Follow

As South Korea fights against the coronavirus, a new escalation of military tensions is looming on the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang launched on Monday March 2 two unidentified projectiles in the direction of the East Sea.

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With our correspondent in Seoul, Louis Palligiano

In his New Year message, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he had " a new strategic weapon " and threatened with " staggering action " against the United States. Since then, North Korea has remained discreet about its military operations, until today.

It is the Committee of Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea who announced the firing by Pyongyang this Monday afternoon (Seoul time) of two unidentified short-range projectiles, from its coast south-east and towards the East Sea. The Committee adds to monitor the situation and to be ready in the event of new launches.

The shooting comes two months after Kim Jong-un's regime announced the end of the moratorium on nuclear tests and ballistic missile tests. It is also the first time that the North has carried out such a test since the beginning of the year after having carried out 13 missile test shots in 2019, against the backdrop of a deadlock in nuclear negotiations with Washington .

Postponed military exercises

The latest provocation from the North takes place despite the announcement last week of the postponement of the next joint US-South Korean military exercises, in order to guarantee the safety of soldiers against the background of the rapid spread of the Covid-19 epidemic in the South.

Hours after the North Korean fire, Seoul expressed " deep concern " and called on Pyongyang to stop these acts which " undermine efforts to ease military tensions on the Korean peninsula ".

► Also listen: End of the moratorium on North Korean nuclear tests: Kim Jong-un may think that using force is a way to move the United States

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• North Korea
• Kim Jong-un

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