North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the East (Japan) Sea on Wednesday, the South Korean military said. This is the first missile launch since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office, UNN reports with reference to Yonhap.
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The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launches northeast at around 8:10 a.m. local time from Chunghwa in North Hwanghae Province in southern North Korea.
The last time the DPRK launched short-range ballistic and cruise missiles into the East Sea was on May 8 and 22, respectively.
"Our military has strengthened monitoring in preparation for (the possibility of) additional launches and maintains a firm readiness while exchanging relevant information with the United States and Japan," the JCS said in a press release.
This is North Korea's first missile launch under the government of Lee Jae-myung in South Korea, who took office in June, and the DPRK's fifth ballistic missile launch this year.
The launch also comes ahead of South Korea's upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on October 31 – November 1.