Seoul [South Korea], April 23: North Korea has once again fired several suspected ballistic missiles toward the open sea, prompting officials in Seoul to consult with their US counterparts on how to expand cooperation, South Korea's General Staff said on Monday.
North Korea is prohibited by UN resolutions from launching or even testing ballistic missiles of any range.
The suspected short-range missiles were said to have flown about 300 kilometres eastwards from an area around the capital Pyongyang after the launch on Monday. They crashed into the sea.
South Korea's military accused North Korea of committing another provocation. Kim Myung Soo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, consulted with the commander of the US Armed Forces Space Command, Stephen Whiting, in Seoul on how they can expand cooperation against threats from North Korea.
Depending on the design, ballistic missiles can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead. Despite international sanctions, North Korea continues to test nuclear-capable missiles and other weapons systems.
The North said it most recently tested a warhead for a strategic cruise missile and anti-aircraft missiles on Friday.
Tensions on the peninsula have increased significantly again. Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has significantly increased the scope of its weapons tests, including the testing of nuclear-capable missiles, and has stepped up its rhetoric against the United States and South Korea, which Pyongyang considers to be enemy states.
Washington and Seoul have expanded their military cooperation, including joint manoeuvres. The talks between Kim and Whiting also focused on North Korea's military use of space, South Korea's Defence Ministry said. Both sides emphasized that North Korea's capabilities in this area are gradually increasing.
The two sides are also looking at the launch of reconnaissance satellites and the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, it said. The strengthening of "the capabilities and systems for joint space operations" was also discussed.
Source: Qatar Tribune