▲ This AP photo shows the Pentagon near Washington. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

US-NK missile launches

U.S. reaffirms security commitment to S. Korea after N.K. missile launches

By Song Sang-ho and Kim Dong-hyun

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- The United States reiterated its security commitment to South Korea and Japan on Wednesday, after North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea, the latest in a series of its weapons tests that heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the North fired the missiles on Wednesday morning (Korea time), without elaborating further.

"We are monitoring these activities. We have been very clear on the threat posed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) military programs, and our commitment to the defense of the ROK, Japan, and our commitment to uphold regional peace and stability," a Pentagon spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency.

"We will continue to work with the both the ROK and Japanese governments to address the threats posed by the DPRK," he added.

ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea while the DPRK is the acronym of the North's official name.

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