South Korea and the United States fired eight ballistic missiles on Monday in response to North Korea launching the same number of missiles the day before, the South Korean military said.
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The Joint Chiefs of Staff said allies launched the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) surface-to-surface missile at targets in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, Monday at dawn.
This ten-minute salvo comes the day following Pyongyang launched eight short-range ballistic missiles, following a joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States in which an American aircraft carrier participated.
“Our military strongly condemns the series of ballistic missile provocations by the North and strongly urges it to immediately cease acts that increase military tensions on the peninsula,” the South Korean military added in its statement.
Pyongyang has stepped up efforts this year to improve its weapons program, despite harsh economic sanctions. Officials and analysts have warned that Kim Jong Un’s regime is preparing to conduct another nuclear test.
Monday’s firing is the second joint show of force by the allies under new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who has vowed to toughen his stance in the face of Pyongyang’s provocations.
“Our government will respond firmly and sternly to any provocation by North Korea,” Yoon said Monday in a speech on the occasion of a day of remembrance.
Last month, Seoul and Washington carried out combined launches, their first such joint action since 2017, following Pyongyang fired three ballistic missiles, including one believed to be at intercontinental range.
