South Korean military authorities reported Tuesday that North Korea launched multiple missiles, including at least one short-range ballistic missile, into waters along the nation’s western shoreline.
According to a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the weapons were fired around 1 p.m. local time (0400 GMT) from Chongju, located in North Korea’s North Pyongan Province.
This represents the first documented missile test by North Korea since April 19, when the nation launched several short-range ballistic missiles that officials claimed were fitted with cluster bomb technology.
Earlier in April, Pyongyang announced it had conducted tests of a new cluster-bomb warhead attached to a ballistic missile along with an electromagnetic weapon. Military analysts characterized these tests as demonstrations of North Korea’s capabilities for contemporary warfare.
In March, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that his nation’s nuclear weapons status could not be reversed and emphasized that building up a “self-defensive nuclear deterrent” remained crucial for the country’s security.
North Korea has intensified its weapons development programs under Kim’s leadership in recent years, despite facing U.N. sanctions on its nuclear and ballistic missile activities since 2006. These efforts have drawn criticism from South Korea, Japan and the United States.
