Wed Sep 18 01:29:10 UTC 2024: ## North Korea Fires Multiple Short-Range Ballistic Missiles
**Seoul/Tokyo** – North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Wednesday morning, according to South Korean and Japanese officials. The missiles, fired from near the capital Pyongyang, flew in a northeasterly direction and are believed to have landed in the sea.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said they are maintaining a heightened state of readiness and are closely monitoring the situation, sharing information with the United States and Japan.
The launches follow a similar incident last week, when North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles, which they described as testing a new multiple-launch rocket system. This latest round of missile launches comes amid reports of intensified military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, with South Korea’s JCS speculating that the weapons may be intended for export.
The United States, South Korea, and Ukraine have accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss strengthening bilateral ties.
The launches also come just days after North Korea released images of its uranium enrichment facility, showing centrifuges used to produce fuel for nuclear weapons. Leader Kim Jong Un visited the facility and called for increased production of weapons-grade materials to bolster the country’s nuclear arsenal.
These recent events underscore ongoing tensions on the Korean peninsula and highlight North Korea’s continued pursuit of its military capabilities.
First Piper 