North Korea fires two missiles

Seoul: North Korea fired two cruise missiles yesterday, Seoul’s defence ministry said, ending a month-long lull in Pyongyang’s record-breaking spate of weapons tests this year.

“Early this morning, we detected that North Korea fired two cruise missiles into the West Sea from Onchon, South Pyongan province,” a ministry official said.

“The US and South Korean military authorities are analysing detailed specifications such as flight distance,” he added.

North Korea has not tested a cruise missile – which are not banned under United Nations sanctions on the country – since January, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

The last time Pyongyang conducted a weapons test was July 10, when they fired what appeared to be multiple rocket launchers.

North Korea has conducted a blitz of sanctions-busting tests since January, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017.

Washington and Seoul officials have also warned that the isolated regime is preparing to carry out what would be its seventh nuclear test.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said yesterday that his government had no plans to pursue its own nuclear deterrent in the face of growing North Korean nuclear threats, as he urged the North to return to dialogue aimed at exchanging denuclearisation steps for economic benefits.

Yoon’s comments during a news conference came hours after South Korea’s military detected the North firing the two cruise missiles.

Tensions could rise further next week as the United States and South Korea kick off their biggest combined military training in years to counter the North Korean threat.

The North describes such drills as invasion rehearsals and has often responded to them with missile tests or other provocations. — AFP