North Korea fires three ballistic missiles into East Sea
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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]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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