North Korea Fires 2 Missiles After US Nuclear Submarine Arrives In South Korea

The military parade of the Korean People's Army in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea (ANTARA/XINUA)

North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the East Sea after the US nuclear ballistic missile submarine arrived at the same time as the inauguration of the South Korea-US security dialogue, the South Korean military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected launches from the Sunan region in Pyongyang at 3.30 and 3.46 in the morning, and the missiles flew up to 550 kilometers before falling into the sea.

As quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 19, JCS denounced the launch as a "real provocation" that undermines security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also on the international community, as well as a "real" violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

"Our military will maintain strong readiness based on the ability to respond to any provocations of North Korea." JCS said in a short message sent to reporters.

Meanwhile, the presidential office held a security surveillance meeting chaired by Deputy National Security Advisor Lim Jong-deuk, from the statement of a presidential office official.

North Korea's missile launch came after South Korea and the US opened a meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Seoul the day before to increase US commitment to expanding deterrence by using all military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend its allies.

The meeting coincided with the arrival of USS Kentucky at the main sea base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, marking the first port visit by the American nuclear-capable strategic submarine (SSBN) since USS Robert E. Lee in March 1981.

Previously, Pyonyang conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test (ICBM) of Hwasong-18 solid fuel on July 12.