Seoul, South Korea
North Korea on Monday (July 1) fired two short-range ballistic missiles, reported South Korea's military. This comes a day after the North warned of "fatal consequences" following major joint exercises in the South.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that it detected the first missile launch early in the morning — at 5:05 am (2005 GMT) — and the second launch approximately ten minutes later. It said that while the first missile travelled roughly 600 kilometres (372.82 miles), the second one covered a distance of 120 kilometres.
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In a statement, the JCS said that "the specifications are currently under detailed analysis by South Korean and US authorities."
However, it said that the missiles were fired in a north-easterly direction from the town of Jangyon in southeastern North Korea.
"Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for further launches," added the JCS.
The second missile, as per an AP News report citing the Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon, possibly suffered an abnormal flight during the initial stage of its flight.
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As per the South Korean media reports citing unidentified military sources, the malfunctioning missile likely crashed in an inland area of the North. Meanwhile, the first missile landed in the waters off the North’s eastern city of Chongjin.
North Korea's 'offensive and overwhelming' response warning
On Sunday (Jun 30), the North Korean Foreign Ministry in a lengthy statement, decried South Korea's recent "Freedom Edge" drills held in conjunction with the US and Japan.
Denouncing three-day drills, the North said they were an Asian version of NATO and said that it will "firmly defend the sovereignty, security and interests of the state and peace in the region through offensive and overwhelming countermeasures."
(With inputs from agencies)