SEOUL, Jan 30 (AFP): North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the waters off its west coast on Tuesday, Seoul's military said, the latest in a string of weapons tests carried out by Pyongyang this year.
South Korea's military "detected several unknown cruise missiles launched into the West Sea of North Korea around 07:00 (2200 GMT)", Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
South Korean and US intelligence agencies "are conducting a detailed analysis," the JCS said.
"Our military is cooperating closely with the U.S. while strengthening surveillance and vigilance, and is closely monitoring North Korea's activities," it added.
Unlike their ballistic counterparts, the testing of cruise missiles is not banned under current UN sanctions on Pyongyang.
Cruise missiles tend to be jet-propelled and fly at a lower altitude than more sophisticated ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and intercept.
Recent months have seen a sharp deterioration in ties between the two Koreas, with both sides jettisoning key tension-reducing agreements, ramping up frontier security, and conducting live-fire drills along the border.
Pyongyang has accelerated weapons testing in the new year, including tests of what it called an "underwater nuclear weapon system" and a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile.
On Monday, state media said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had overseen the test launch of a new strategic cruise missile from a submarine.
N Korea fires 'several' cruise missiles
FE Team | Published: January 30, 2024 21:20:31
N Korea fires 'several' cruise missiles
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