North Korea fires 3 more short-range ballistic missiles

ANKARA (AA) – North Korea fired three more short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, apparently, in response to ongoing joint air drills between South Korea and the US that have heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, local media reported on Friday.

The missiles were launched from Koksan County in North Hwanghae Province on Thursday night, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing a South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) statement.

The latest missile launch was the second of the day, as Pyongyang launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, North Korea launched more than a dozen missiles, one of which landed across its de facto maritime border with South Korea for the first time since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

The latest missiles launch followed a statement by Pak Jong-chon, secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, who strongly reacted to Washington and Seoul’s decision on Thursday to extend the ongoing five-day largest air drills “Vigilant Storm” for one more day.