US Carrier Returns to East Sea, North Korea Launches Two Short-range Ballistic Missiles

Illustration of North Korea's ballistic missile launch. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday, the South Korean military said, after a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was re-deployed into the waters in response to an earlier ballistic missile launch.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from the Samsok area of ​​Pyongyang between 06:01 and 06:23 local time. But did not provide any other details.

The launch came just two days after North Korea's launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan.

"While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military maintains a posture of full readiness in close cooperation with the United States," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters, citing Korea Times, October 6.

The missile launch was the sixth in 12 days, as well as the first since North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile (IRBM) over Japan on Tuesday.

Yesterday, the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) returned to waters east of South Korea, having departed last week following exercises with the South Korean Navy and then trilateral anti-submarine warfare exercises involving Japan.

The carrier is expected to engage in another trilateral exercise with Japan in international waters of the East Sea at a later date.