DPRK fires two short-range missiles into sea
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast city of Wonsan early on March 10, flying approximately 500 km (300 miles), the Republic of Korea's military said.
DPRK has a large stockpile of short-range missiles and is developing long-range and intercontinental missiles.
Reports of the missiles being fired coincide with already heightened tension on the Korean peninsula after the DPRK conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket last month, leading to new UNSecurity Council and bilateral U.S. sanctions.
The DPRK fired six rockets into the sea last week using a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) from Wonsan, supervised by leader Kim Jong Un who ordered his military to be prepared to launch pre-emptive attacks against enemies.
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| DPRK leader Kim Jong Un meets scientists and technicians in the field of researches into nuclear weapons in this undated photo released by DPRK's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang March 9, 2016. |
The Pentagon said this week it had not seen DPRK demonstrate a capability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead. But Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the department was working on US ballistic missile defenses to be prepared.
DPRK conducted its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 but its claim to have set off a miniaturized hydrogen bomb has been disputed by the U.S. and RoK governments and many experts.
US and the RoK troops began large-scale military drills this week, which the DPRK called "nuclear war moves" and threatened to respond with an all-out offensive.
