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News broadcast in South Korea: TV images show an archive image of a North Korean missile launch
Photo: Ahn Young-joon/dpa
North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles for the fifth time since the beginning of the year, according to the South Korean military. The general staff in Seoul announced that the renewed launches of guided missiles were recorded on Wednesday morning (local time). They therefore flew towards the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
It was initially unclear how many of these missiles were fired. Together with the USA, it is being monitored to see whether there are further signs of military activity in North Korea, it said. »We are increasing our surveillance and our armed forces are working closely with the United States. “We are closely monitoring further signs and activities from North Korea,” said the South Korean General Staff.
According to its own statements, North Korea recently tested strategic cruise missiles several times to expand the country's nuclear power. The country, ruled by Kim Jong Un, is subject to international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons and missile programs. In contrast to ballistic missiles, tests of cruise missiles are not directly affected by the UN ban decisions against North Korea. However, like ballistic missiles, they can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead. Unlike ballistic missiles, guided missiles have their own permanent propulsion.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula are increasing significantly again. Over the past two years, North Korea has significantly increased the scale of its rocket and guided missile weapons tests and stepped up rhetoric against the United States and South Korea, which Pyongyang sees as enemy states. Washington and Seoul have expanded their military cooperation, including joint exercises.
Officially, North Korea and South Korea are still at war. After the end of the Korean War in 1953, an armistice agreement was sealed, but there is no peace treaty.
asc/dpa/AFP