The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched around 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the Pyongyang area on August 20.
The launch marked the third DPRK missile launch in August, following launches on August 6 and 12, and came just eight days after the previous launch.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said during a National Assembly Defense Committee session held shortly after the launch that the missiles were assessed to be 600mm super-large multiple rocket launchers (KN-25) capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the projectiles flew approximately 300 kilometers before landing in the East Sea.
The latest launch came as the joint US-South Korea military exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) was approaching its scheduled conclusion. The exercise has been conducted from August 17 to 21.
The DPRK has consistently condemned such joint US-South Korea military exercises as rehearsals for aggression against the DPRK, while Washington and Seoul describe them as defensive exercises.
The August 20 launch therefore came amid heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, shortly before the conclusion of the UFS exercise.
