North Korea fired “several cruise missiles” into the Yellow Sea between the Korean peninsula and China, the Yonhap news agency said on Saturday, citing the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul.
According to Yonhap, the shootings took place around 4 a.m. (Friday, 7 p.m. GMT). It comes three days after those of two ballistic missiles, this time in the Sea of Japan on the east coast.
“South Korean and US intelligence agencies are analyzing the shootings,” the news agency added.
This new military test also comes two days after Pyongyang announced that the stopover of an American nuclear submarine in South Korea could fall “under the terms of use” of its own nuclear weapons.
Threats to which Seoul responded the next day, reiterating that such an attack would mean the “end” of Kim Jong Un’s regime.
The North Korean leader in 2022 described his country’s nuclear power status as “irreversible” and called for a strengthening of its arsenal, particularly of tactical nuclear weapons.
According to the US military, the most recent launch of cruise missiles occurred when US soldier Travis King invaded North Korea from the south on Tuesday and may be being held there by authorities.
The soldier, who was serving a prison sentence in South Korea, was forced to return to the United States where he faced disciplinary action. North Korea heard nothing from him on Thursday.
South Korean, American and Japanese leaders are also due to meet in the United States in August to strengthen their cooperation amid the growing threat from Pyongyang.
That same month, Washington and Seoul are scheduled to begin their major annual joint military exercises, dubbed the “Ulchi Freedom Shield.”
These exercises are viewed very badly by North Korea, which sees them as rehearsals for an invasion of its territory.