North Korea Fires Multiple Short-Range Ballistic Missiles into the East Sea

North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea. This comes 20 days after the mid-range hypersonic missile test launch on the 2nd.

On the 22nd, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area into the East Sea at around 15:01 this afternoon."

This missile launch occurred just three days after the test of the strategic cruise missile 'Hwasal-1La-3' type's super-large warhead (payload) power and the test launch of the new surface-to-air (anti-aircraft) missile 'Byeolzzi-1-2' over the West Sea on the 19th. Last November, North Korea placed the reconnaissance satellite Malligyung-1 at an altitude of approximately 500 km, allowing it to monitor the Korean Peninsula's airspace. It is also reported that the second reconnaissance satellite will be launched by the end of this month.

The military said, "While strengthening readiness in preparation for additional launches, we are closely sharing information related to 'North Korean ballistic missiles' with U.S. and Japanese authorities and maintaining a full state of readiness."

Meanwhile, on the same day, General Kim Myung-soo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with General Steven Whiting, Commander of the U.S. Space Force, at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) prohibits North Korea from developing ballistic missile technology and similar reconnaissance satellite technology under sanctions resolutions. However, North Korea is continuing to develop its own space technology and is illegally cooperating with Russia on space technology.