Seoul, Oct. 12 (Jiji Press)–North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles from around Pyongyang into the Sea of Japan on Monday, according to the South Korean military. The missiles were launched at around 9:20 a.m. and traveled over 900 kilometers, the military said. They are believed to have fallen into waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, according to Japanese Defense Ministry officials. A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official said at a press conference that the latest missile firing was likely a demonstration against South Korea’s first hypersonic missile test, which followed North Korea’s similar missile test on Oct. 3. The military stressed that South Korea shares information on ballistic missiles closely with the United States and Japan and maintains an appropriate posture. The South Korean presidential office argued that North Korea’s missile launches violate related U.N. Security Council resolutions and do not contribute to stability on the Korean Peninsula. Last week, North Korea disputed a South Korean military report that a mine that exploded near the military demarcation line, injuring three soldiers, had been planted by North Korea. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
