North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles towards Sea of ​​Japan

The continuation of a long series of weapons tests in recent weeks. North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of ​​Japan on Monday (March 27th), according to the South Korean military. “Our armed forces detected two short-range ballistic missiles fired from Junghwa area in North Hwanghae Province at 07:47 am heading towards the East Sea”said the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, using the Korean name for the Sea of ​​Japan.

The missiles each traveled about 370 km, according to the same source. The South Korean army denounced a “serious provocative act undermining the peace and stability of the international community as well as the Korean peninsula”. The South Korean General Staff also announced a strengthening of its surveillance against new launches, and the maintenance of its capabilities to “respond overwhelmingly to any provocation”.

A ballistic test record

The Japanese Ministry of Defense in turn confirmed the launch. The firings come as Seoul and Washington conduct a joint amphibious landing exercise, just days after wrapping up their biggest joint military drills in five years on Thursday.

After a record year of weapons testing and growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang in 2022, South Korea and the United States have stepped up security cooperation. North Korean military provocations have also pushed Seoul and Tokyo to move beyond their historic differences and try to strengthen their defense cooperation.