North Korea fires presumed short-range missiles into the sea

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KIM TONG-HYUNG and HYUNG-JIN KIM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired two presumed short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea on Monday, South Korean officials said, resuming weapons demonstrations after a months-long hiatus that may have been forced by the coronavirus crisis in Asia.

The launches came two days after North Korea’s state media said leader Kim Jong Un supervised an artillery drill aimed at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired from an area near the coastal town of Wonsan and flew about 240 kilometers (149 miles) northeast on an apogee of about 35 kilometers (22 miles). It said the South Korean and U.S. militaries were jointly analyzing the launches. JCS officials later told reporters that the weapons were presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles.

North Korea likely tested one of its new road-mobile, solid-fuel missile systems or a developmental “super large” multiple rocket launcher it repeatedly demonstrated last year, said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies. Experts say such weapons can potentially overwhelm missile defense systems and expand the North’s ability to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, including U.S. bases there.



FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, file photo provided on Feb. 29, 2020 by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, inspects the military drill of units of the Korean People's Army, with soldiers shown wearing face masks. South Korea’s military says North Korea has fired at least one unidentified projectile. The launch on Monday, March 2, 2020 came two days North Korea’s state media said leader Kim supervised an artillery drill aimed at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/95c86dab9fbc1f5cbb1848a53ffe344e

[yaesu]

1. They named the missile coors thinking that would scare the hell out of us

[Submariner]

2. This is what happens when the love letters stop

Kim's heart is now broken beyond repair. This is Kim's re-enactment of Glenn Close's "I will NOT be ignored" line. Kim probably found out his first love Donnie poo is cheating on him and is now porking Paula his evangelical adviser.

[soryang]

3. This is the one year anniversary of the Trump-Bolton debacle in Hanoi nt

[Eugene]

4. North Korea leader Kim oversees long-range artillery drill: KCNA

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS MARCH 2, 2020 / 4:38 PM / UPDATED 26 MINUTES AGO

North Korea leader Kim oversees long-range artillery drill: KCNA

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a long-range artillery drill on Monday, state media KCNA said on Tuesday.

South Korea had reported two launches off the east coast into the sea on Monday, but KCNA made no mention of whether missiles were involved.

Photos released by state media showed troops firing a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), first seen last year and estimated by analysts to be about 400mm-450mm in caliber.

“The men of long-range artillery pieces on the front participating in the drill proudly demonstrated the accurate marksmanship which they had improved in their training,” KCNA reported.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles/north-korea-leader-kim-oversees-long-range-artillery-drill-kcna-idUSKBN20P36X