NK fires rockets in latest launches
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NORTH Korea yesterday test-fired 18 rockets into the sea, South Korea’s defense ministry said, the latest in a series of launches that have provoked criticism from Seoul and Washington.
The rockets were fired off North Korea’s east coast and flew about 70 kilometers over the East Sea, the ministry said.
The ministry said 10 rockets were fired at 6:20pm local time, and eight more at 8:03pm.
South Korea’s military “has maintained a close watch for possible North Korean provocations,” a spokesman said.
South Korean troops have increased vigilance following a series of rocket or missile launches in late February and this month.
The activity coincides with annual South Korean-US military exercises that started in February and will run until mid-April.
North Korea condemns such war games as rehearsals for an invasion, while Seoul and Washington say they are purely defensive.
“We urge North Korea to stop provocative activities that will heighten military tension across the border,” the South Korean spokesman said.
North Korea has defended its missile and rocket tests as justifiable self-defense drills.
South Korea has called the launches a “reckless provocation” while Washington urged Pyongyang to halt the tests immediately, saying they risked inflaming regional tensions.
The rocket launch came two days after North Korea’s National Defense Commission threatened to demonstrate its nuclear deterrence.
Analysts said the comments could indicate North Korea is preparing to carry out a fourth atomic test.
“Additional measures will be taken to demonstrate its might one after another as long as the US nuclear threat and blackmail persist as now,” the NDC said in a statement.
North Korea carried out nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and in February last year.
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