North Korea launches several short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of ​​Japan

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of ​​Japan on Monday, coinciding with the completion of the joint military maneuvers between South Korea and the United States and the visit of the Secretary of the US State Department, Antony Blinken, to the South Korean capital, Seoul, to participate in the Democracy Summit.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea has indicated that it has detected at least three missile launches in the Pyongyang area between 7:44 a.m. and 8:22 a.m. (local time), which traveled about 300 kilometers and fell into the Sea of ​​Japan.

According to a senior South Korean military official, the trajectories of these missiles were similar to those of the solid-fuel KN-24, with a range of up to 40 kilometers and a payload of 400-500 kilograms.

"We strongly condemn North Korea's latest missile launch, which is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," said the South Korean military, which has tracked the launches and shared its information with the American and Japanese authorities.

This launch occurred days after Seoul and Washington concluded the annual 'Freedom Shield' maneuvers that lasted eleven days, which aim to strengthen deterrence against Pyongyang's nuclear and missile weapons. and has taken place after the latter abandoned the inter-Korean agreement reached in 2018 and designed to reduce tension in the border area.

During the last few weeks, North Korea has launched numerous "strategic" missiles towards the Yellow Sea and the Sea of ​​Japan - also known as the East Sea -, while at the same time it has repealed the different cooperation mechanisms with South Korea, country from which it has removed the label of "partner for reconciliation and reunification" to consider them as one of its greatest enemies along with the United States.

In addition, Blinken arrived this Sunday in Seoul, where he will participate in the Democracy Summit alongside "leaders committed to strengthening democratic governance." He will highlight the progress made and how the United States and like-minded democracies are organizing to address the most pressing challenges. pressing issues in the world," said its spokesman, Matthew Miller.