SEOUL : North Korea fired four short- range ballistic missiles into the western ocean on Saturday morning, said South Korean service, adding the missiles flew about 130 kilometers at an altitude of about 20 km.
North Korea has launched a series of missiles this week, including a possible failed intercontinental ballistic bullet( ICBM), drawing condemnation from Washington, Seoul and Tokyo and raising speculation it could be readying for the resumption of nuclear testing for the first time since 2017.
Saturday’s launch, fired between 11:31 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. KST, comes as the United States and South Korea wrapped up a six- day watchful Storm exercise that began on Oct. 31.
The common military exercise involved some 240 military aircraft and two US strategic bomber B-1B, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
This is the first time the B-1B has been stationed in US-South Korean drills since 2017, which shows “ the common defense capabilities and determination of the Republic of Korea and the US to intensively respond to any provocations from North Korea, and the will of the US to apply a strong commitment to extended deterrence, ” JCS said in a statement.
Pyongyang on Friday demanded that the United States and South Korea halt “ instigative ” air exercises. South Korea said it climbed warplanes in response to 180 North Korean service breakouts near the countries ’ participated border on Friday.
On Wednesday, North Korea fired a day-to-day record 23 missiles, with one landing off the seacoast of South Korea for the first time.
In recent times the UN Security Council has been split on how to deal with North Korea and in May, China and Russia vetoed a US-led drive to put further UN sanctions in response to North Korean missile launches.
