Another threat from Kim Jong-Un: North Korea launched two ballistic missiles at sea

North Korea tested on Tuesday two short-range ballistic missiles to its eastern waters in the second demo of Pyongyang’s strength this weekofficials said, a day after the start of US-South Korean military exercises that the North sees as a rehearsal for an invasion.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the launches were carried out from the coastal city of Jangyonin the southwest of the country, between 7:41 a.m. and 7:51 a.m., and estimated that the missiles they flew over North Korea before crashing into the sea off the country’s east coast.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the South Korean military has heightened its vigilance and is in close coordination with the United States.

Pyongyang may further step up weapons testing in coming days in response to the Allied military exercises, which will last until March 23. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his troops to stand ready to repel what he called “frenzied preparations for war” by his rivals.

On Monday, North Korea said it had tested two cruise missiles from a submarine, the first time he is known to have made such a launch. In its previous submarine launches, it had used ballistic missiles. Also It is the first time that North Korea has fired multiple missiles from a submarine in a single launch.according to observers.

The North hinted that cruise missiles were being developed to carry nuclear warheads and claimed the latest test verified the country’s position as a “nuclear war deterrent”.

North Korea’s acquisition of submarine-launched missile systems is an alarming development for the United States and South Korea, as the launches would be harder to detect and give the North the ability to retaliate with a second attack.

Experts say it would take years, vast resources and vast technological upgrades for the heavily sanctioned nation to build a fleet of multiple submarines that could move silently and reliably execute attacks.

The joint U.S.-South Korean drills that began Monday are the largest in years and included a simulated computerized command post. The exercises are designed to refine the allies’ response to the growing nuclear threat from north korea and other changing security environments.

Countries have expanded their exercises since last year, when North Korea tested more than 70 missiles in 2022. These included intercontinental ballistic missiles with the potential range to reach the mainland United States and missiles at short-range nuclear-capable they could target South Korea.

(With AP information)

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