North Korea Fires Over Ten Rockets into West Sea Today... Day After South Korea-US-Japan Joint Drill

Launches in the Sunan District of Pyongyang

It has been confirmed that on June 19, North Korean forces fired more than ten rounds of multiple rocket launchers into the West Sea. This occurred immediately after South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted their first joint air exercise since President Lee Jaemyung took office.

According to the military, at around 10:00 a.m. on this day, North Korean forces launched more than ten rounds of multiple rocket launchers in a northwestern direction from the Sunan District area of Pyongyang. An official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "We detected signs of a multiple rocket launcher launch in advance and were prepared. At around 10:00 a.m., we detected the launch of more than ten rounds," adding, "The detailed specifications are currently under analysis."

Yonhap News

The multiple rocket launchers fired by North Korea on this day do not appear to be the 600mm launchers, which are considered to be at the level of ballistic missiles. Typically, if North Korea launches ballistic missiles, the military notifies the media. A military official explained, "North Korea does not usually fire more than ten rounds at a time when using 600mm multiple rocket launchers," and added, "Multiple rocket launcher drills by North Korea are quite frequent."

Previously, from the previous day, South Korean forces conducted artillery firing drills at the Chilseong firing range in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, which is within 5 kilometers of the Military Demarcation Line. On the previous day as well, a joint air exercise was conducted with the United States and Japan over the southern sea of Jeju. Both the artillery drills in the border area and the joint training with the United States and Japan were carried out for the first time since President Lee took office.