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North Korea launches multiple short-range ballistic missiles: Seoul
September 18, 2024
Article Body Text<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">North Korea test fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in a northeastern direction on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, just days after the North unveiled a uranium enrichment facility.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS, said it detected the launches at about 6:50 a.m. from the North's Kaechon area in South Pyongan Province, north of the capital Pyongyang.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> It said they traveled about 400 kilometers (250 miles), without providing further details. North Korea had not confirmed the launches at time of publication.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Japan's Ministry of Defence also confirmed that North Korea launched an object that could be a ballistic missile, and said it was believed to have landed in the sea outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance against additional launches, our military will share North Korean ballistic missile information with the U.S. and Japanese sides and maintain a full readiness posture,” said the South Korean JCS.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The missiles fired by North Korea are believed to be a similar variant to the modified version of the SRBM KN-23 series that it launched on July 1, according to a military source. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the time, North Korea said the two launches were tests of the “new tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpo-11Da-4.5”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Last week, the North’s unveiled details of its uranium enrichment facility for the first time, with leader Kim Jong Un calling for increasing the number of centrifuges for uranium enrichment so it can increase its nuclear arsenal for self-defense. </span></p> <hr/> <p><b>RELATED STORIES</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br/></span></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-unranium-facility-09122024233109.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">North Korea unveils uranium enrichment facility for the first time</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-ballistic-missiles-09122024035225.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">North Korea fires multiple short-range ballistic missiles: Seoul</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-nuclear-arsenal-09102024002013.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kim Jong Un says North Korea to increase its arsenal of nuclear weapons</span></a></p> <hr/> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A uranium enrichment facility produces highly enriched uranium by spinning it in centrifuges at high speeds. This enriched uranium is a critical component in the production of nuclear warheads.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The North did not reveal the location of the facility, but South Korea and the United States believe it operates uranium enrichment facilities at the Kangson nuclear complex near Pyongyang and at the Yongbyon nuclear site.</span></p> <p><b><i>Edited by Mike Firn.</i></b></p>
Content TypeText
LanguageEnglish
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
RightsKCNA via Reuters
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 17, 2024 22:13 EDT
BylineBy Taejun Kang for RFA
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
