North Korea is stepping up its weapons tests with the aim of developing more advanced weapons.
North Korea conducted its third cruise missile test in less than a week, firing into waters off its west coast.
South Korean military “detected several unknown cruise missiles fired toward North Korea's West Sea around 7 a.m.'' [22:00 GMT]” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
It added that South Korean and US intelligence agencies were analyzing the data.
North Korea is not prohibited from testing cruise missiles under long-standing U.N. sanctions imposed over its nuclear program and has already conducted two tests in the past week.
On Monday, state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un “directed the launch of a submarine-launched strategic cruise missile known as the Purwasar-3-31” over the weekend, days after South Korea detected several cruise missiles being launched. ” was reported. the west coast of the country.
North Korea's weapons tests come amid heightened tensions on the peninsula as Kim modernizes his military and develops more sophisticated weapons.
Since the beginning of the year, it has also launched solid-fuel hypersonic ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable underwater attack drones.
Meanwhile, Japan, South Korea and the United States are expanding joint military exercises that Mr. Kim describes as rehearsals for invasion and strengthening a deterrence strategy built around nuclear-capable American assets.
In recent weeks, Kim has declared South Korea his country's “main enemy” and shut down institutions specializing in unification and aid efforts.
