FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

News

North Korea Fires Five More Projectiles in the Vague Direction of Japan

Pyongyang sent five short-range projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Monday, while South Korea's Unification Ministry claimed that the North is capable of a fifth nuclear test at any point.
Photo by Jeon Heon-kyun/EPA

Read and watch more about North Korea in "March Madness," a VICE News special section on the Hermit Kingdom.

North Korea fired five short-range projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Monday, South Korea's military said, amid heightened tension over the isolated country's nuclear and rocket programs.

The unidentified projectiles were launched from south of the city of Hamhung and flew about 120 miles, landing in waters east of North Korea, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Seoul's Unification Ministry claimed on Monday that the North is capable of carrying out a fifth nuclear test at any point.

"We believe that (the North) is able to carry out a fifth nuclear test immediately," ministry spokesperson Jeong Joon-hee said, adding that the government in Seoul is preparing for "all possibilities," according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency

On Friday, North Korea fired two mid-range ballistic missiles into the sea in defiance of tough new UN and US sanctions slapped on the country following nuclear and rocket tests earlier this year.

"North Korea should refrain from all provocative actions, including missile launches, which are in clear violation of UN resolutions," Sung Kim, the US special envoy for North Korea, told reporters in Seoul when asked about Monday's firing.

In recent weeks, North Korea has stepped up its bellicose rhetoric, threatening pre-emptive nuclear strikes against Washington and Seoul and firing short-range missiles and artillery into the sea.

North Korea Fired Two Ballistic Missiles — And One Blew Up Right After It Was Launched

The North protests annual ongoing joint US-South Korea military drills.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said last week that the country would soon test a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads in what would be a direct violation of UN resolutions that have the backing of Pyongyang's chief ally, China.

Advertisement

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was "deeply concerned" about the situation on the Korean peninsula.

"We hope North Korea does not do anything to contravene UN Security Council resolutions. We also hope all sides can remain calm and exercise restraint and avoid doing anything to exacerbate confrontation or tensions," she told a daily news briefing.

Watch

North Korea's Nuclear Threat: VICE News Interviews Victor Cha: