North Korea fires ballistic missiles days after US-South Korea drills
- Launch comes after a year of unprecedented weapons tests by North Korea, including its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile
- US and South Korea held a joint air drill three days ago – North Korea typically calls such military exercises an invasion rehearsal
North Korea fired ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters on Friday, South Korea’s military said, its latest weapons demonstration that came days after US and South Korean warplanes conducted joint drills that North Korea viewed as an invasion rehearsal.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch occurred on Friday but gave no further details, such as what type of weapons were fired, how far they flew or how many there were.
The US flew nuclear-capable bombers and advanced stealth jets near the Korean peninsula for joint training with South Korean warplanes on Tuesday. North Korea typically calls such military exercises by the US and South Korea an invasion rehearsal.
South Korea’s defence Ministry earlier said the drills were part of a bilateral agreement on a US resolve to defend its Asian ally with all available military capabilities, including nuclear.
The training came after North Korea recently claimed to have conducted key tests needed to develop its first military spy satellite and a new strategic weapon, a likely reference to a more mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.