North Korea fired twenty-three missiles, one of which landed near South Korea’s territorial waters.

On November 2, a missile exchange took place between the two Koreas. Pyongyang launched at least 17 of them, one of which landed near South Korea’s territorial waters. “de facto territorial occupation”.

The North Korean army also fired more than a hundred artillery shots “buffer” between the two countries, at a time when South Korea and the United States have been carrying out major air maneuvers in the region, condemned by Pyongyang.

North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles at 8:51 a.m. (12:51 p.m. Paris time), one of which crossed the border. “northern boundary line”constitutes the de facto sea border between the two countries. That prompted a rare air raid warning to send residents of South Korea’s Ulleungdo Island, about 120 kilometers east of the Korean peninsula, to underground shelters.

According to the Seoul military, it is “for the first time since the division of the peninsula”, After the Korean War in 1953, a North Korean missile landed very close to the South’s territorial waters. There is Mr. Yoon “North Korea’s provocation is a de facto territorial invasion,” he said., says the press release.

A meeting of the National Security Council was held in South Korea

Earlier, at 6:51 a.m. (10:51 p.m. Paris), North Korea had already fired four more short-range ballistic missiles, according to the South Korean military. Ten more rockets of the same type were launched at 9:12 in the morning. And again, according to Seoul’s information, at 1:27 p.m., the North Korean army fired about 100 artillery shots from Kangwon province in the southeast of the country towards the interior of the country. “buffer” The border was established in 2018 in hopes of reducing tensions between the two countries and the risk of armed incidents.

The closest missile to South Korea fell just 57 kilometers east of the country, Seoul’s military called it a missile. “very rare and unbearable” Pyongyang struck. “Our army will resolutely respond to this”, he added. Soon after, he announced that he had fired three air-to-surface missiles near the site of the North Korean missile landing – at the sea border. “Six additional surface-to-air missile launches were detected in the east and west”The General Staff of South Korea added in a press release.

Mr. Yoon called a National Security Council meeting on the launch, which some analysts said was one of the most aggressive and threatening developments in years. The president of South Korea also gave instructions on measures “Fast and hard enough to pay a heavy price for North Korean provocations”. The Kremlin called all parties “quiet”.

South Korea has closed several air routes over the East Sea – also known as the Sea of ​​Japan – advising airlines to divert. “Ensuring the safety of passengers on routes to the USA and Japan”.

Repressions

Japan also confirmed the launch of suspected North Korean ballistic missiles, and the coast guard advised ships to be vigilant. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he wanted to “Hold national security meeting as soon as possible” due to “Increasing tension on the Korean Peninsula”.

Currently, Seoul and Washington are conducting the largest joint air exercise in the history of both armies called “Awake Storm” involving hundreds of warplanes. Pyongyang has been increasing its retaliatory missile launches for several days.

Secretary of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party and Field Marshal Park Jong-chon called the exercises aggressive and provocative. According to him, the name of these maneuvers echoes the “Desert Storm” operation given to the military operations of the US-led coalition against Iraq after the invasion of Kuwait in 1991.

“If the United States and South Korea try to use their armed forces against the United States [République populaire démocratique de Corée (RPDC)] without fear, the special equipment of the armed forces of the DPRK will fulfill its strategic mission without delay.”Mr. Pak said, according to state agency KCNA. “The United States and South Korea will be forced (…) pay the most terrible price in history”– the marshal threatened.

Wednesday’s firing follows another long series of what the North calls tactical nuclear drills in September and October. Washington and Seoul have repeatedly warned that Pyongyang could conduct a new nuclear test, the seventh in its history.