N. Korea calls tests a ‘warning’
Official denounces S. Korea, U.S. over start of joint exercises
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Wednesday leader Kim Jong Un supervised a live-fire demonstration of newly-developed short-range ballistic missiles he said were intended to send an “adequate warning” to the United States and South Korea over their joint military exercises.
The announcement by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday came a day after South Korea’s military said it detected the North firing two projectiles that were likely ballistic missiles into the sea.
Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff alerted reporters to the launches minutes before the North’s Foreign Ministry denounced Washington and Seoul over the start of their joint exercises on Monday. The ministry’s statement said the drills, which North Korea sees as an invasion rehearsal, leave the country “compelled to develop, test and deploy the powerful physical means essential for national defense.”
It was North Korea’s fourth round of weapons launches in less than two weeks.
North Korea’s news agency said the launches early Tuesday verified the reliability and combat ability of the newly-developed missiles.
The agency reported Kim expressed satisfaction and said the launches would “send an adequate warning to the joint military drill now underway by the U.S. and south Korean authorities.”
Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles traveled 279 miles before landing in waters off the country’s eastern coast.
It said the projectiles showed similar flight characteristics to short-range missiles North Korea fired on July 25, which traveled 373 miles during launches the North described a “solemn warning” to South Korea over its plans to continue military drills with the United States.
South Korea’s military had said the flight data of the July missiles showed similarities to the Russian-made Iskander, a solid-fuel, nuclear capable missile that is highly maneuverable and travels on lower trajectories compared with conventional ballistic weapons, improving its chances of evading missile defense systems.
The North last week also conducted two test firings of what it described as a new rocket artillery system.