North Korea has launched two short-range ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters, South Korea’s military has said.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the launch took place on Wednesday but gave no further details, such as how far the missiles flew.
The launch came hours after the United States flew at least one long-range B1-B bomber to the Korean Peninsula in a show of force against North Korea as part of its annual drills with South Korea.
The field training has been held on the sidelines of an ongoing annual US-South Korean computer-simulated command post exercise called Ulchi Freedom Shield.
North Korea views US-South Korean military drills as an invasion rehearsal.
Earlier this week, North Korea’s state media said leader Kim Jong Un called for the military to be constantly ready for combat to thwart plans by its rivals to invade.
Mr Kim said in a speech marking the country’s navy day on Monday that the waters off the Korean Peninsula have been made unstable “with the danger of a nuclear war” because of US-led hostilities, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has carried out more than 100 weapons tests, many of them involving nuclear-capable missiles designed to strike the US, South Korea and Japan.
Many experts say North Korea ultimately wants to use its increased military capabilities to wrest greater concessions from the US.
North Korea’s testing spree has caused the US and South Korea to expand their drills, resume trilateral training involving Japan, and enhance “regular visibility” of US strategic assets at the Korean Peninsula.
In July, the US deployed a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea for the first time in four decades.
