North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles (CRBM) and artillery rockets into the West Sea on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, amid speculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping may soon visit North Korea.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of the South Korean military said it had detected the missile launched from the Jongju area in North Phyongan Province around 1 p.m., without elaborating.
CRBM refers to ballistic missiles that have a relatively short range of less than 300 kilometers.
The missiles flew about 80 kilometers before landing in the sea, the JCS said, noting that they were analyzing the exact specifications of the launch with the United States.
The JCS said North Korea fired various types of projectiles, including CRBM and shells from a multiple rocket launcher in what appeared to be a rare mixed launch of such weapons.
The launch is also believed to have involved a "suicide drone."
"We have increased surveillance and monitoring in preparation for the possible launch of additional ones and are closely sharing information related to the United States and Japan while maintaining full readiness," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, quoted by The Korea Times (26/5).
The launch of the North Korean missile comes amid speculation that President Xi may visit North Korea later this month or early next month.
Previously, President Xi held summit talks with US President Donald Trump in Beijing earlier this month.
The latest launch marks the eighth ballistic missile firing by North Korea so far this year.
North Korea last fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on April 19. Pyongyang's state media later said they had conducted a ground-to-ground ballistic missile launch involving a cluster bomb test.
They tested firing strategic cruise and anti-ship missiles from the Choe Hyon destroyer on the West Sea on April 12, which was supervised by leader Kim Jong-un.
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