North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, South Korean military says

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South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are reviewing the releases for additional information.

The South Korean military said it has stepped up its surveillance and surveillance of North Korea while working closely with the U.S. to maintain its defensive readiness.

The Japanese Coast Guard said it believes the two missiles were fired five minutes apart, at 12:38 and 12:43 local time (23:38 and 23:43 ET).

Japan’s Defense Ministry said North Korean projectiles are believed to have fallen into waters outside its exclusive economic zone.

Wednesday’s ballistic missile tests are Pyongyang’s first since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January and come just days after Pyongyang said it tested long-range cruise missiles on Saturday and Sunday. .

North Korea is banned from testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons under international law. These previous tests have met with international disapproval and sanctions from the United Nations Security Council.

Cruise missiles are powered by jet engines. Like an airplane, they stay closer to the ground, making them harder to spot. Most cruise missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads.

In comparison, ballistic missiles only operate for a brief part of their flight. They are shot down an arc path that for larger versions takes them out of the Earth’s atmosphere and can withstand heavier payloads, such as nuclear warheads.

The North Korean military introduced two new missiles at the parades last October and January. One, which analysts said could be one of the largest in the world, was so large that it had to be placed in an 11-axle truck.
But at the most recent military parade in the north last week, there were no missiles to be seen, the parade ranks were filled with weapons from the smaller battlefield variety.

CNN’s Junko Ogura contributed to this report.

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