Politics South Korea: North Korea fires two missiles

According to the South Korean military, North Korea has again fired missiles. The launch of two missiles in the west of the neighboring country was recorded early Monday morning (local time), according to the General Staff in the South Korean capital Seoul. They were ballistic missiles, which North Korea is prohibited from testing by UN resolutions. Depending on their design, such missiles can be equipped with a nuclear warhead.

South Korea's top command accused the isolated neighboring country of "clear provocation" - as is usually the case with such tests. North Korea is subject to international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program.

A short-range missile reportedly flew about 600 kilometers in a north-easterly direction. Later, another missile flew about 120 kilometers in the same direction. It was initially unclear where both missiles landed. Further data on the missile launches is still being reviewed with the US military, it was reported.

On Sunday, North Korea criticized a joint US military exercise with South Korea and Japan in international waters south of the Korean peninsula and threatened "offensive and overwhelming countermeasures". In a statement published by state media, the Foreign Ministry in Pyongyang accused the US of pursuing strategic goals by using a "trilateral military bloc" with the two countries. The strategy is aimed at achieving hegemony not only in North-East Asia, but worldwide.

The three-day "Freedom Edge" exercise between the three countries, which was also intended to deter North Korea, ended on Saturday. Fighter planes and warships, including the aircraft carrier "USS Theodore Roosevelt" and destroyers from the three countries took part in the exercise. According to the countries involved, the trilateral exercise is to be expanded in the future.

SDA