North Korea has fired 3 ballistic missiles in a series of test off its eastern part right toward the Sea of Japan, according to South Korean military.
The said ballistic missiles were launched from North Hwanghae province approximately between 5:45 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. local time. It was seen travelling 500 kilometers and 600 kilometers, enough distance to strike South Korea, the South’s military said in a statement.
The statement noted that this range encomp(–foul word(s) removed–) all areas of South Korea, including the seaport of Busan at South Korea’s southern tip.
Timeline of North Korea’s Missile Testing
1993 North Korean missile test – (May 29/30, 1993) – Nodong
2006 North Korean missile test – (July 5, 2006) – Taepodong-2
2009 North Korean missile test (July 4, 2009)
Successful launch of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 satellite (December 12, 2012)
2013 North Korean missile tests (May 18-20, 2013 – part of 2013 Korean crisis)
2014 North Korean missile tests (March 2014) including Nodong.
North Korea claims to launch a missile from a submarine (May 2015)
Successful launch of the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 satellite (Feb. 7, 2016)
Test of engine designed for an intercontinental ballistic missile (April, 2016)
The missile testing came 6 days after South Korea announced that it will deploy an advanced US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to counter threats from North Korea.
North Korea also threatened to retaliate in contrast to the deployment of the THAAD system with a “physical response” to one of the location it was installed.
North Korea is believed to have more than 1000 missiles with various capabilities and power that includes long range attacks which could possibly strike U.S one day.
Relations between the two Korea’s are not in good terms and they remain, technically, in a state of war. The two countries never signed a peace treaty after an armistice ended their 1950-53 conflict.
