N. Korea in missile test

Stirring the pot…

North Korea fires anti-ship missiles, says South Korea

North Korea has fired several anti-ship cruise missiles off its east coast, South Korea’s military says.

Authorities said the weapons, launched on Thursday morning near the city of Wonsan, appeared to be short-range “surface-to-ship” missiles.

They flew about 200km (125 miles) before landing in the water.

Repeated ballistic missile tests by the North this year – not all successful but all a breach of UN sanctions – have sparked international alarm.

Experts fear the tests indicate progress towards Pyongyang’s ultimate goal of putting a nuclear warhead on a missile.

It is unclear whether the latest firing violates the UN Security Council’s resolutions against North Korea.

The resolution issued on 2 June specifically bans Pyongyang from nuclear activity and ballistic missiles, but also bans launches of “any other provocation” and “any other existing weapons of mass destruction”.

South Korean military spokesman Roh Jae-cheon said the latest launch showed the North “likely wanted to show off its ability to precisely target a large warship” after recent military drills involving US aircraft carriers and South Korean troops.

“By testing different types of missiles, North Korea also appears to be aiming to secure the upper hand in relations with South Korea and the United States,” he told reporters.

Anti-ship cruise missiles are guided missiles which generally skim the water. In 2012, North Korea displayed several such weapons known as Styx.

But North Korea has also previously unsuccessfully tested anti-ship ballistic missiles, experts believe.

On 29 May, it fired a Scud-type ballistic missile from the same location, which flew about 450km.