North Korea has fired four short-range projectiles off its western coast, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement on Friday.
According to the statement, carried by Yonhap News Agency, the range of the projectiles was estimated to be beyond 100 kilometers, although the model of the projectiles is as yet unknown.North Korea had “launched four short-range projectiles believed to have a range of some 140 kilometers into the West Sea in a succession between 4:15pm and 5pm today from Dongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province,” Yonhap quoted the JCS as saying.
North Korea had previously test fired a single short-range projectile the day before, according to the JCS.
The JCS went on to say that the firing appeared to be in response to the ongoing U.S.-ROK Foal Eagle and Key Resolve joint military drills, which began on March 2. While Key Resolve exercises have finished the Foal Eagle drills will continue until April 24.
North Korea commonly refers to the drills as a precursor to an invasion of the DPRK and has repeatedly called for their cancellation, while the U.S. and South Korea maintain that the exercises are defensive in nature.
North Korea had previously fired a number two missiles on March 2, to coincide with the beginning of the annual drills and according to the JCS, had fired a further seven into the East Sea on March 13. – Source: NK News
