N. Korea fires multiple SRBMs toward East Sea from Wonsan area on Thursday morning

Earlier on this Thursday morning North Korea launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea in its latest display of blatant defiance.

Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung has details.

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday the first in around two months.

"Our military detected multiple short-range ballistic missiles of various types launched into the East Sea from the Wonsan area in North Korea between approximately 8:10 AM and 9:20 AM today."

The missiles are believed to include the KN-23, a North Korean version of the Iskander missile, and the KN-25 a 600-millimeter super-large multiple rocket launcher.

Some flew around 250 kilometers, landing near Al Island, a rock island at the frontal waters of Kilju-gun County of Hamgyongbuk-do Province, while some of the others flew 350 kilometers and fell more than 100 kilometers beyond the island.

While saying such missile launches are clear acts of provocation that seriously threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean military said it is looking into the specifics, sharing information with the U.S. and Japan.

Thursday's launch is the first since early March, and the second ballistic missile launch since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20th.

As for the reason behind such a provocation amid relatively peaceful times on the Peninsula with no Seoul-Washington joint drills going on nor any strategic assets in place, one expert says he agrees with the JCS's assessment that the missile launch is to test the weaponry for export to Russia.

"North Korea is focusing efforts quite strategically on weapons that could be used immediately on the battlefields of the Ukraine war, including short and medium-range missiles. It appears the regime is continuously developing and testing those that are advantageous for exports."

Responding to Pyongyang's missile launch, the presidential National Security Office held an emergency meeting to discuss the missile launch and response measures.

Presided by the second deputy director, the Office said the government will closely monitor North Korea's movements,

and maintain a full readiness posture to respond to any provocations.

Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.