North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles, Seoul says

SEOUL, April 22 (UPI) -- North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Monday, South Korea's military said, days after it tested a "super-large warhead" for cruise missiles.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected several short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area just after 3 p.m. The missiles traveled roughly 186 miles before splashing down in the sea between Korea and Japan, the JCS said in a text message to reporters.

"Our military immediately detected, tracked and monitored the North Korean missile launches and closely shared related information with the U.S. and Japan," the JCS said. "Detailed specifications are being comprehensively analyzed."

The launch was the latest in a slew of weapons tests and heated rhetoric from Pyongyang that has kept tensions at their highest in years on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea said it test-fired a "super-large warhead" for a strategic cruise missile and a new anti-aircraft missile on Friday. Earlier this month, Pyongyang launched an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile with a new hypersonic warhead.

Monday's launch came as South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo met with the head of U.S. Space Command, Gen. Stephen Whiting. The allies discussed North Korea's evolving threats in space and its growing military ties with Moscow, according to a press release from the JCS.

North Korea is widely believed to be sending arms and munitions to Russia in exchange for advanced space technology and help evading U.N. sanctions.

Earlier Monday, South Korea's military said that the North appeared to be preparing to launch a spy satellite.

"North Korea's preparations for the launch of additional military reconnaissance satellites have been observed, but there are no imminent signs of a launch," JCS spokesman Col. Lee Sung-jun said during a regular press briefing. "It's hard to predict the timing, but we're keeping a close eye on such activities."

North Korea successfully placed its first military spy satellite into orbit in November and has vowed to launch several more this year.