(3rd LD) N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS

▲ North Korea carries out a firepower strike drill involving 600 mm ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers on March 14, 2026, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, taken from the website of North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 8, 2023, shows the North's newly built "tactical nuclear attack submarine" being launched on Sept. 6, during a ceremony attended by the North's leader Kim Jong-un. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(3rd LD) N Korea-missile launch

(3rd LD) N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS

(ATTN: ADDS details, statement, photo)

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, April 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles launched from the Sinpho area in the North at around 6:10 a.m., and they flew about 140 kilometers.

"Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements under a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture and maintains the capabilities and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner," the JCS said.

South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities have tracked movements related to the launch and have also shared relevant information with the Japanese side, it added.

The military is reportedly considering the possibility of the latest launch involving a submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).

Submarine-related facilities are known to be located in Sinpho, with the Hero Kim Kun Ok and the 8.24 Yongung submarines previously spotted at the eastern coastal city. The North test-fired an SLBM in waters off Sinpho in May 2022.

North Korea last fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on April 8, in a rare pair of launches conducted in a single day. The North also fired an unidentified projectile the previous day, but it disappeared shortly after it was fired in an apparent failure.

Following the series of launches over two days, North Korea's state media said the North test-fired a tactical ballistic missile tipped with a cluster bomb warhead, claiming it can "reduce to ashes any target" within its range with the highest-density power.

State media also reported Pyongyang conducted tests of an electromagnetic weapon system and carbon fiber sham bombs scattering while verifying the combat reliability of a mobile short-range anti-aircraft missile system, raising views the latest launch may be part of such weapons tests.

Following the launch, the presidential Office of National Security convened an emergency meeting and condemned it as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, calling for an immediate halt.

The defense ministry also issued a similar statement, urging the North to halt such missile provocations.

"North Korea should immediately halt consecutive missile provocations that heighten tension on the Korean Peninsula and actively take part in our government's efforts to establish peace," it said.

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