N.Korea fires 2 short-range ballistic missiles: Seoul

Seoul, March 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, the latest in a series of projectile launches even as the country is on high alert against the coronavirus pandemic.

Both were fired northeastward from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan at 6.10 a.m. within a 20-second interval and flew around 230 km at a maximum altitude of around 30 km, the Seoul-based Yonhap New Agency quoted the JCS as saying, adding that South Korean and US intelligence authorities were analyzing other specifics.

"In a situation where the entire world is experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19, this kind of military act by North Korea is very inappropriate and we call for an immediate halt," JCS said.

The military is closely monitoring the situation while maintaining a readiness posture, it added.

North Korea has carried out a series of weapons tests and artillery firing exercises this year.

Except for small artillery firing drills, Sunday's launch is believed to be the North's fourth major weapons test this year.

The last such test came on March 21, when the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles believed to be its version of the US' Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) from its western county of Sonchon in North Pyongan province, the Yonhap News Agency said in its report.

It is not immediately known if leader Kim Jong-un oversaw Sunday's firing, though Pyongyang's state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) had reported that the three previous tests this month took place under his watch.

On March 2 test, the North launched two missiles presumably from the multiple rocket launcher from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea. They flew around 240 km on an apogee of 35 km.

Three projectiles of the similar type fired from its eastern town of Sondok on March 9 flew around 200 km and as high as around 50 km, according to the JCS.

Source: IANS