The South Korean Defense Ministry says the North’s missiles were fired from North Hwanghae province, flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) and fell into the water off the country’s east coast.
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Japan lodged a protest with North Korea following the launch at the country’s embassy in China, Kyodo news agency reported.
While Pyongyang often issues saber-rattling statements during annual US and South Korean joint exercises, “this year the level of anger is much greater”, says Mike Chinoy, a former CNN senior worldwide correspondent and the author of “Meltdown: The inside story of the North Korean nuclear crisis”. The drills, which involve training for amphibious operations and wartime missions, are aimed at working out a best response to possible aggression from North Korea.
Earlier this week North Korea issued a statement that threatened “indiscriminate” nuclear attacks on the US and South Korea.
“As of now, there are no direct signs of provocation, but we are planning to continuously strengthen surveillance”, Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said.
North Korea is expected to raise the rhetorical ante even further over the coming weeks as the military drills between South Korea and the United States continue.
Pyongyang has conducted four nuclear tests in the past decade and claimed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb in January but most experts expressed doubt saying the blast was too small to back up the assertion.
Other forms of shipments and aid have been suspended under sanctions imposed after the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in 2010 that Seoul blames on the North, although Pyongyang denies any role.
Such measures are in line with the new United Nations sanctions.
The North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said Thursday that Pyongyang will “liquidate” South Korean assets at the closed Kaesong factory park and the scrapped tourism resort at Diamond Mountain, both of which are in North Korea. If it’s serious of about calming tensions on the Korean peninsula, it will use that considerable influence. It was opened in 2004 and lauded as a breakthrough project symbolizing collaboration between the rivaling neighbors.
The reclusive state yesterday also declared all cross-border economic agreements null and void and voiced intentions to sell off assets left behind by South Korean companies in shuttered joint projects. Their estimated value amounts to 820 billion won ($663 million).
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At Kaesong, the South Korean assets include some buildings, manufacturing equipment and finished products.
