(CNN) — South Korea and the United States responded to North Korea’s eight-missile launch on Sunday by firing another. eight missiles into waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula on Monday morning.
Seven were fired by South Korea and one by the US, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said they showed that “even if North Korea provokes with missiles from multiple locations, (South Korea and the US have) the ability and willingness to strike immediately with precision.”
North Korea fired eight short-range ballistic missiles from various locations across the country into waters east of the Korean peninsula on Sunday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, calling the actions “serious provocation damaging peace and the stability not only of the Korean peninsula, but also of the international community.
The missile exchange comes as North Korea escalates its provocations in the region, amid heightened concern that Pyongyang is preparing a nuclear test.
Change of tone towards North Korea
It also follows a change of tone in Seoul towards North Korean aggression, following the election of South Korea’s new president, Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office on May 10. Yoon has constantly emphasized his tougher stance on North Korea and his desire to strengthen the southern army, a departure from his predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who had promoted dialogue and peaceful reconciliation.
The president vowed to respond “firmly and sternly” to North Korea’s provocations on Monday during a South Korean Memorial Day speech.
North Korea’s launch on Sunday is its third missile test since the start of Yoon’s term and its 17th this year.
Pyongyang’s previous launch came on May 25 as US President Joe Biden was returning home from a trip to Asia. Biden’s trip included a stopover in Seoul during which the US president and his South Korean counterpart agreed to begin talks on restarting and possibly expanding joint military exercises that had been halted under his predecessor, Donald Trump. .
The United States and South Korea also fired missiles in response to North Korea’s missile launch on May 25. Including Monday’s launch, South Korea has responded three times this year, following a hiatus since 2017.
Missile launch, show of force
On both sides, the missile launches are seen as a show of force and are not aimed at specific targets. Missiles usually fall into the sea.
North Korea’s latest launch came a day following the South Korean and US navies wrapped up a three-day combined exercise in the waters off the Japanese coast of Okinawa, the South Korean military confirmed. to CNN.
Also Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also “strongly protested” North Korea’s latest launch, telling reporters on Sunday it was a clear violation of UN resolutions. While Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi called the action “unprecedented” and confirmed that at least six, but possibly more missiles fired by North Korea had landed outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
On Sunday, the US Armed Forces and the Japan Self-Defense Forces also held a joint drill following North Korea’s multiple missile launches, the US Indo-Pacific Command’s Public Affairs department said.
US and Japanese forces conducted a “bilateral ballistic missile defense exercise” to “demonstrate the readiness of the US-Japanese alliance to respond to regional threats,” it said.
Japan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the exercise reaffirmed the readiness of both forces, “demonstrating the close cooperation between Japan and the United States in addressing the ballistic missile threat and further strengthening the Japan-US alliance.”
CNN’s Blake Essig and Emi Jozuka in Tokyo contributed to this story.
