North Korea launched over 10 rockets into the Yellow Sea on Thursday, a day after South Korea conducted joint air drills with the US and Japan.
The move signals escalating tensions in the region.
The rockets were fired from an upgraded 240-millimeter multiple launcher capable of reaching population centers, including Seoul, according to South Korea. “The projectiles, believed to be multiple launch rockets, flew tens of kilometers before falling into the Yellow Sea,” a South Korean military official told local media. Intelligence teams from the US and South Korea are analyzing the launch.
The drills held Wednesday marked the first trilateral air exercise under President Lee Jae Myung’s new administration.
Tensions have risen since Kim Jong Un aligned with Russia, supplying arms and up to 15,000 troops for the Ukraine conflict. South Korea fears Pyongyang could receive military technology in exchange.
Kim has urged local factories to increase arms production and recently unveiled two 5,000-ton destroyers, calling them “convincing proof of the rapid transformation of our Navy.”