North Korea launched two medium-range ballistic missiles on Sunday, days after Pyongyang announced a successful test of a solid-fuel engine with the aim of developing a new weapon system. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected two medium-range ballistic missiles fired from the Tongchang-ri area in North Pyongan Province towards the East Sea, also known as the South Sea. Japan.
The missiles were detected between 11:13 a.m. (2:13 a.m. GMT) and 12:05 p.m. (3:05 a.m. GMT) and they traveled a “lofted” trajectory, flying a distance of about 500 km, the general staff said in a statement, adding that South Korean and American intelligence services were analyzing the firing “in light of recent trends related to North Korea’s missile development.”
A new fuel engine
Tongchang-ri is home to a major rocket launch site, where Pyongyang tested a “high-thrust solid-fuel engine” on Thursday, which its state media KCNA called an important test “for the development of a new type of strategic armament”. “Since the missiles launched today are medium-range ballistic missiles, it is estimated that they are test firings of a new ballistic missile equipped with the solid-fuel engine tested on December 15,” he said. observed Cheong Seong-chang, a researcher at the Sejong Institute.
Seoul’s military “strongly” condemned Sunday’s shooting, calling it a “serious provocation” and a “clear violation” of UN Security Council resolutions. “Our military will maintain a state of readiness based on the ability to conduct an overwhelming response to any provocation by North Korea,” she added.