North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un. Credit: AP

North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea in what appeared to be a statement of defiance as the US deploys a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea for the first time in decades.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said that from 3:30 to 3:46am Wednesday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from an area near capital Pyongyang.

The missiles that flew about 550 kilometers (341 miles) before landing in waters east of the Korean Peninsula, Seoul said.

The range roughly matched the distance between Pyongyang and the South Korean port city of Busan, where the USS Kentucky arrived Tuesday afternoon in the first visit by aS nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea since the 1980s.

Police serve search warrant three decades after Tupac's unsolved murder
Homeless suffer in deadly US heatwave leaving ground too hot to sleep on

The launches marked the North’s first ballistic activity since July 12, when it flight-tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that demonstrated potential range to reach deep into the US mainland.

Tensions have risen in the region in recent months as the pace of both North Korean weapons tests and US-South Korean joint military drills have increased in a cycle of tit-for-tat.

Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired around 100 missiles while attempting to demonstrate a dual ability to conduct nuclear attacks on both South Korea and the continental United States.

The allies in response have stepped up their joint military training and agreed to increase the deployments of US strategic assets like long-range bombers, air craft carriers and submarines to the region.

Periodic visits by US nuclear ballistic missile-capable submarines to South Korea were one of several agreements reached by the two countries’ presidents in April in response to North Korea’s expanding nuclear threat.

They also agreed to establish a bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group and expand military exercises.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...