North Korea launches 4 anti-ship missiles

NORTH KOREA - North Korea fired four anti-ship missiles into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula yesterday, which the South Korean military said was intended to demonstrate its precise targeting capability. intended to show off its various missile capabilities, display its precise targeting capability, in the form of armed protests against ships in regard to US Navy carrier strike groups and joint naval drills”, Roh Jae-cheon, a spokesman for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs told reporters. Jae-in took office in May. Analysts say each launch, successful or not, improves missile technology and ultimately provides information that helps bring North Korea closer to its goal of building a missile that could reach the US.

The missiles flew about 200 kilometers (124 miles), South Korea’s military said in a statement, adding the US military was undertaking a more detailed analysis. “Our military has strengthened surveillance and alertness readiness in cases of additional provocation by North Korean military and is maintaining all readiness posture while we are tracking and monitoring related situation”, the statement read.

A US defense official confirmed a launch had been detected but told CNN the Pentagon was unlikely to release a statement as these were not ballistic missiles capable of posing a long-range threat.

(CNN)