North Korea fires three ballistic missiles into East Sea

Pyongyang fired three ballistic missiles early Tuesday into the East Sea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

North Korea launched the short-range missiles, presumed to be Scud-types, between 5:45 a.m. and 6:05 a.m. from Hwangju County in North Hwanghae Province, according to the JCS. They flew between 500 to 600 kilometers (311 to 373 miles), and fell into the East Sea.

This is a range wide enough to reach all of South Korea, according to the JCS, and cover the country’s southern region where the U.S. Forces Korea plans to deploy an American anti-ballistic missile system.

This launch comes following Seoul and Washington’s recent decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system to Seongju County in North Gyeongsang, a move strongly opposed by North Korea.

Military officials are seeing the North’s latest missile launch as a protest against the deployment of the Thaad.

Pyongyang also launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile test earlier this month on July 9.

The North last fired Scud missiles in March.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joognang.co.kr]