Advertisement

North Korea launches four surface-to-ship missiles

By Elizabeth Shim
Kim Jong Un supervising North Korea’s missile test of the Pukguksong-2, according to state media in May. North Korea launched multiple missiles early Thursday, local time. File Photo by KCNA/EPA
Kim Jong Un supervising North Korea’s missile test of the Pukguksong-2, according to state media in May. North Korea launched multiple missiles early Thursday, local time. File Photo by KCNA/EPA

June 7 (UPI) -- North Korea fired four anti-ship cruise missiles, according to a Pentagon official who spoke to CNN.

The firing of the surface-to-ship missiles was confirmed by South Korea's joint chiefs of staff and by officials in Tokyo, Japan, according to Kyodo news agency.

Advertisement

The missiles each flew about 124 miles, a short range that does not warrant a statement from the U.S. Defense Department about tracking the launches, CNN reported.

The short-range missiles do not pose a direct threat to the United States, according to the report.

South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said in a statement the rockets were fired from Wonsan on the eastern coast of the peninsula, but did not provide details on whether they landed in Japan-claimed waters.

"North Korea fired multiple unidentified projectiles, assumed to be surface-to-ship missiles, this morning from the vicinity of Wonsan, Gangwon province," Seoul said.

The launches, which took place early Thursday, local time, are the first provocation since the unanimous adoption of a new sanctions resolution at the United Nations Security Council last week.

The sanctions include a travel ban, an asset freeze on four entities and 14 North Korean officials, including the chief of North Korea's overseas espionage operations.

Advertisement

North Korea last launched a short-range missile on May 29 that flew 280 miles.

Latest Headlines