North Korea fires missile launcher, South Korea says – News

The South Korean military said North Korea fired two missile launchers on Sunday, the latest episode of the weapons-testing frenzy in Pyongyang this year. “There were shots this morning that we suspect were from several North Korean missile launchers,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a message to reporters.

“Our military is keeping our defenses ready and closely monitoring relevant events,” he added, without elaborating.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, citing unidentified officials, Pyongyang fired four shots into western waters over the course of an hour starting at 7:20 a.m. from an unspecified location in South Pyongan Province.

The agency added that the purpose of these shots is being evaluated.

The presidency said in a statement that South Korea’s National Security Council held an emergency meeting and stressed the need to maintain a firm stance on ready defenses “to avoid a security vacuum during the transitional period of the government.”

South Korea held a presidential election on March 9, and the winner, Yoon Seok-yeol, who advocates a tougher stance against North Korea, will not take office until May 10.

Seoul and Washington consider nuclear-armed North Korea preparing to launch a full-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time since 2017, likely disguised as a space launch.

On Wednesday, the South Korean military warned of a failed missile launch by North Korea, which analysts said could have been the projectile.