North Korea Fires Multiple Cruise Missiles into East Sea, Military Says "Preemptively Detected and Prepared"

Shortly After the Report on the Destroyer Accident at the Chongjin Shipyard

On May 22, North Korea launched multiple unidentified cruise missiles into the East Sea.

Yonhap News

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military detected several unidentified cruise missiles launched from the area around Seondeok in South Hamgyong Province, North Korea, at approximately 9 a.m. on this day. The military had already detected signs of a possible missile launch by North Korea and was prepared in advance. The specific details and specifications of the missiles are currently being analyzed in detail by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Our military is closely monitoring various activities by North Korea under a firm South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture to prevent any miscalculation by North Korea in the current security situation," adding, "We are maintaining the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation."

Meanwhile, this is the first time North Korea's missile launch has been made public in about two weeks since the launch of a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) on May 8.