South Korea says North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the sea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean military said Wednesday that North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles into waters off its west coast, while analysis of commercial satellite images showed it took down a giant arch installed in its capital. Gave, which was a symbol of reconciliation. South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week described the Pyongyang monument as “monstrous” and called for its removal, while he announced his country was abandoning the goal of peaceful reunification with the South and ordered a rewriting of the constitution. . It is the most hostile foreign rival to define Seoul.

The test was the second known test conducted by the country this year, after it tested its first solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile on January 14. This reflects his efforts to improve weapons inventories to reach US bases in Japan and Guam.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military, along with the US, were analyzing the latest launches. He did not immediately confirm the exact number of missiles fired or specific flight details.

“Our military has increased surveillance and is coordinating closely with the United States, monitoring new signals and activity from North Korea,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen in recent months as Kim continues to accelerate weapons development and issue provocative threats about nuclear conflict with the United States and its Asian allies.

NK News, a news website focused on North Korea, reported that three letters for Pyongyang’s National Reunification Monument, popularly known as the Reunification Arch, have gone missing in satellite images taken by Planet Labs on Tuesday morning , although it is unclear exactly when and how it was dropped. The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the report.

The arch was a 30 meters (about 100 feet) high structure that was installed on the highway leading to the city of Kaesong near the southern border.

In response to the tensions, the United States, South Korea and Japan are expanding their joint military exercises, which Kim describes as invasion rehearsals, and intensifying their deterrence strategies around US nuclear-capable assets .

North Korea said last week it tested a suspected nuclear-capable underwater attack drone in response to joint naval exercises involving the United States, South Korea and Japan, while blaming its rivals for tensions in the region. .

Since 2021, Pyongyang has conducted several flight tests of long-range cruise missiles, which it claims can travel up to 2,000 kilometers (1,242 mi) and are nuclear capable.

Analysts argue that the North may try to undercut the South in the regional nuclear standoff and ultimately force direct negotiations with Washington in an effort to strengthen its nuclear position.