North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Saturday morning, a further escalation after drones previously flew into South Korean territory.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported Saturday morning that it had detected the launch of three missiles from North Korean territory south of its capital, Pyongyang.
SOUTH KOREA FIRE WARNING SHOTS, ENGAGES WITH AIRCRAFT AFTER NORTH KOREA DRONES CROSS BORDER
A television screen shows a file image of North Korea’s rocket with the test satellite during a news program at the Seoul train station in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, December 31, 2022.
(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
The three missiles traveled more than 220 miles from their launch point into the Sea of Japan. The distance indicates that North Korea’s ability to attack South Korea has increased.
The missiles are just the latest display of the infamous hermit kingdom’s growing military might.
South Korea on Tuesday apologized to its citizens for not shooting down North Korean drones that crossed its borders for the first time in five years.
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In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea, on February 28, 2022.
(Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
Lt. Gen. Kang Shin Chul, chief operating officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a televised address that the military deployed fighter jets and attack helicopters but was unable to eliminate the drones, including one that remained in South Korea. for three hours.
The South Korean military detected five drones on Monday, but none were shot down before they returned to North Korean airspace or disappeared from Seoul’s radar.
The launch is also a response to a rocket recently launched by South Korea on Friday aimed at enhancing its surveillance capabilities.
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In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, above, visits the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters in North Korea on Thursday, May 12, 2022.
(Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
south korea military confirmed it had tested a solid-propellant rocket on Friday after the unannounced launch sparked rumors of a UFO or North Korean missile launch.
In a statement, the Defense Ministry said the launch was part of an initiative to build a space-based surveillance capability and strengthen the country’s defense posture.
The department said it did not alert the public to the launch in advance because it involved sensitive military security issues.
Julia Musto and Caitlin McFall of Fox News contributed to this report.
