North Korea launches ballistic missiles at the end of a year that has seen a record number of tests
North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles Saturday, Seoul announced, at the end of a year during which Pyongyang launched an unprecedented number of missiles and intensified hostilities against its neighbors.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula rose sharply in 2022, at a time when North Korea conducted a series of record weapons tests this year, including the firing of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which it is prohibited from testing by United Nations sanctions.
Saturday's launch comes a day after South Korea announced a successful test of a solid-fuel space launcher, and in the wake of five North Korean drone incursions into South Korean airspace earlier this week.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected "three short-range ballistic missiles launched by North Korea in the East Sea", the Korean name for the Sea of Japan, at around 8:00 am (23:00 GMT Friday).
The missiles were launched from Chunghwa, south of Pyongyang, and traveled about 350 km before falling into the sea.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff added, "Our military maintains a state of full alert, while cooperating closely with the United States and enhancing surveillance and vigilance."
The incursion of North Korean marches on Monday was the first in five years, and prompted an apology from the defense minister in Seoul after the South Korean army failed to shoot down even one march, despite the deployment of fighter jets and attack helicopters in an air operation that lasted five hours.
South Korean President Yoon Sok-yul described the air incursion as "unbearable," promising to make North Korea understand that "provocations will always have dire consequences" for it.
On Thursday, the South Korean army conducted exercises to strengthen its anti-drone defense, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
On Friday, South Korea conducted a successful test on a new space launcher, as part of Seoul's efforts to enhance its reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities via satellite.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news