North Korea launched multiple cruise missiles from its east coast into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, the South Korean military announced, Yonhap News reported.
The joint chiefs of staff (JCS) confirmed that the missile was launched off the coast of the eastern coastal city of Wonsan around 9 a.m. Wednesday, the report said.
Kim Jong Un threatens to attack and ‘occupy’ South Korea in case of conflict
The North Korean flag flies next to the bellows wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Reuters/Edgar Hsu)
“With heightened surveillance and vigilance, our military is working closely with the United States and closely monitoring new signs and activities from North Korea,” JCS said in a statement.
The launch came just two days after South Korea’s first national security adviser, Kim Tae-hyo, said North Korea could launch an intercontinental ballistic missile within the month.
According to JCS, North Korea last launched a ballistic missile on November 22, but the launch appears to have failed.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un threatened Thursday to use force against his countrymen in the south during a ceremony marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s Korean People’s Army.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un calls for ‘war preparations’ during first-ever inspection of Nampo Naval Shipyard
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang, North Korea, Monday, January 15, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the events depicted in the image distributed by the North Korean government. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Agency, Associated Press)
“Peace cannot be obtained by begging or in exchange for talks,” the dictator said.
Kim Jong Un’s statement is the latest in a series of escalating comments from the North Korean leadership threatening to destroy South Korea if an attack is prompted.
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In recent weeks, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered a complete abandonment of efforts toward eventual unification with South Korea, a long-term hope of both North and South since the outbreak of the Korean War.
Fox News Digital’s Timothy Nerozzi and Lawrence Richard contributed to this article.
