North Korea fired multiple close-range ballistic missiles on Tuesday as South Korean president Lee Jaye Myung held a meeting to ramp up efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
The South Korean military said that they detected multiple projectiles, including a short-range ballistic missile fired from Jeongju in North Pyongan province towards the West Sea. The launch was conducted at around 1pm local time.
This was the first launch since 19 April, when Pyongyang tested Hwasongpho-11, a surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile with a cluster-bomb warhead known as the North Korean Iskander. That launch included tests of carbon-fibre bombs and an electromagnetic weapons system, which North Korea described as “special assets” for the country.
The launch came hours after Mr Lee led a cabinet meeting where he urged stronger efforts to advance the country’s military.
He called on his administration to accelerate efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and to swiftly transfer wartime operational control of troops from Washington to Seoul.
Mr Lee didn’t specifically comment on any threats posed by the North but emphasised the importance of Seoul demonstrating the “resolve to take responsibility for and protect our own security ourselves”, saying such a posture would also strengthen the country’s alliance with the US.