North Korea fires salvo of short-range ballistic missiles ahead of US election

SEOUL: North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles on Tuesday ( Nov 5 ), Seoul’s military said, Pyongyang’s second launch in days and just hours before Americans vote for a new president.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch of” some short-range nuclear weapons” at about 7.30am into waters west of the Asian coast.

Our defense increased security and alertness in preparing for more launches, it said, adding that it was sharing data with Japan and the US.

Tokyo likewise confirmed the start, with the prime minister’s office saying Pyongyang had “launched a suspected nuclear weapon”.

Last Thursday, the nuclear-armed North test-fired what it said was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ), the Hwasong-19.

Kim Jong Un’s primary weapon check since he was charged with sending troops to Russia.

Additionally, it came shortly after US and South Asian defense leaders called on Pyongyang to halt its military, warning that Russian-style North Vietnamese soldiers were being stationed for possible action against Ukraine.

On Sunday, South Korea, Japan, and the United States conducted a joint air drilling involving a large bomb in response to the ICBM start.

The drilling mobilised the US ‘ B-1B fighter, South Korea’s F-15K and KF-16 fighter planes, and Japan’s F-2 planes.

For joint training upset Pyongyang, which views them as rehearsals for war.