North Korea Fires Multiple Short-Range Missiles Toward East Sea

SEOUL, Nov 5 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Tuesday, according to South Korea's military, reported Yonhap news agency.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the launches at approximately 7:30 am from the Sariwon area in North Hwanghae Province, situated in the country's western region.

While the JCS did not disclose the exact number of missiles, it stated that an analysis is currently underway.

"While bolstering our military’s surveillance and vigilance to prepare for potential further launches, we are maintaining full readiness and are actively sharing North Korean ballistic missile data with the United States (US) and Japanese authorities," the JCS conveyed in a text message.

The latest incident comes just five days after North Korea launched the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea on Thursday, a weapon theoretically capable of reaching the US mainland.

Following this recent ICBM launch, North Korea claimed it had furthered its strategic missile capabilities and secured what it described as an "irreversible hegemonic position" in nuclear weapon delivery systems.

In response, the JCS reported that South Korea, the US, and Japan conducted joint air drills on Sunday, which included the deployment of a US B-1B bomber over waters east of Jeju Island in southern South Korea.

North Korea has consistently reacted with hostility to the presence of US strategic assets in and around the Korean Peninsula, accusing Washington of escalating regional tensions.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP