SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from a launch site near Kaechon City some 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Pyongyang, five days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a weapons-grade uranium enriching facility, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Wednesday.
According to the JCS, North Korea fired multiple SRBMs northeastwards from Kaechon at about 6:50 a.m. (2150 GMT) on Wednesday. The missiles flew about 400 kilometers. The South Korean military command said it is collaborating with the United States military intelligence body to investigate launch details.
On Jul. 1, North Korea conducted a fire drill for SRBMs and announced that it would conduct extra tests, claiming that two missiles carried 4.5-ton warheads. The JCS analyzed that a missile flew about 600 kilometers while another flew about 120 kilometers before crashing into the ground.
The JCS stated, "North Korea's missile launch is a clear act of provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and we strongly condemn it." It added, "Under the robust ROK-U.S. combined defense posture, we will closely monitor North Korea's various activities and maintain the capability and readiness to respond to any provocation overwhelmingly."
