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| ▲ A missile is launched from the North Korean town of Hamju, South Hamgyong Province, on March 25, 2021, in this file photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) N Korea-missile launch
(LEAD) N. Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles just ahead of U.S. election
(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with details)
By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, just hours ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launches at about 7:30 a.m. from the Sariwon area in the western province of North Hwanghae. It did not specify the number of missiles, noting an analysis is under way.
"While strengthening our military's monitoring and vigilance in preparation for additional launches, we are maintaining full readiness while closely sharing North Korean ballistic missile data with U.S. and Japanese authorities," the JCS said in a text message.
The launch took place just hours before Americans head to the polls to vote between Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her Republican rival Donald Trump on Tuesday (U.S. time).
It also came five days after the North launched the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) -- theoretically capable of reaching the U.S. mainland -- into the East Sea on Thursday.
North Korea boasted of the new ICBM launch, claiming it renewed the records of its strategic missile capability and that it secured an "irreversible hegemonic position" in developing delivery means of nuclear weapons.
In response to last week's launch, South Korea, the United States and Japan staged combined air drills, involving a U.S. B-1B bomber, over waters east of the southern island of Jeju on Sunday, according to the JCS.
Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader, blasted the air exercise just before the latest launch, describing it as demonstrating the "most hostile and dangerous aggressive nature" of the enemy.
North Korea has bristled against the deployment of U.S. strategic assets to and near the Korean Peninsula, accusing Washington of heightening tensions.
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