North Korea Fires Three Ballistic Missiles Towards East Sea: South Korean Military

This missile launch is likely the nuclear-armed country's 16th weapons test so far this year.

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New Delhi: North Korea has fired three short-range ballistic missiles from an area near Pyongyang towards the East Sea on Thursday, the South Korean military said. This has been the latest among a flurry of such launches ahead of an expected visit to the region by US President Joe Biden.

According to a report by news agency AFP, South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff said, “Our military detected around 1829 (0929 GMT) that three short-range ballistic missiles were fired from Sunan area in Pyongyang,” adding that the missiles were fired toward the Sea of Japan.

This missile launch is likely the nuclear-armed country's 16th weapons test so far this year.

As per reports, the latest launch comes after North Korea fired an apparent submarine-launched ballistic missile, on Saturday, what was thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile, on May 4.

It is to be noted that the missiles were launched at 6:29 pm local time on Thursday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. However, he refrained from providing any additional information on the path of the flight.

This launch has been the third volley of ballistic missiles in May, and comes hours after leader Kim Jong Un ordered a lockdown after the country reported its first case of Covid-19.

Earlier on Thursday, North Korea had confirmed its first-ever Covid-19 infection and declared a ‘serious emergency’ with leader Kim Jong Un appearing in a mask on the television for the first time to order the nationwide lockdowns.

Meanwhile, as per media reports, US President Joe Biden is set to meet the new South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on a trip that starts on May 20, in a bid to discuss its policy towards North Korea.