North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles off its west coast early Saturday, the South Korean military said.
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An unspecified number of cruise missiles were fired toward the Yellow Sea around 4 a.m. (2 p.m. Eastern Time), the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the specifications of the missiles would be evaluated.
“We have increased surveillance and control and are maintaining maximum readiness in close coordination with the United States,” the JCS said.
The launches come three days after Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles as part of a “simulation of a tactical nuclear strike” in response to the annual joint military exercises “Ulchi Freedom Shield” between the US and South Korea in the reclusive country.
Pyongyang sees the drills as a rehearsal for an invasion of its territory, while both allies say they are defensive in nature.
On Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a training command post where he outlined his future war plans, including “very intense simultaneous attacks” on key military posts in the South.
North Korea has conducted a record number of weapons tests this year and last week made its second attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit, but it failed.
In response, Seoul and Washington have increased defense cooperation and held joint military exercises using advanced stealth aircraft and U.S. strategic assets.
Relations between the two Koreas are at their lowest point in years and diplomacy has stalled after attempts to discuss Pyongyang’s denuclearization failed.
Kim Jong Un said North Korea was an “irreversible” nuclear power and called for increased weapons production, including tactical nuclear weapons.