North Korea test-fired 25 rockets into the sea on Sunday, South Korea’s defence ministry said, the latest in a series of launches that have provoked criticism from Seoul and Washington.
The rockets were fired off the North’s east coast and flew about 70 kilometres over the Sea of Japan (East Sea), a ministry spokesman said. The ministry said 10 rockets were fired at 6:20 pm, and eight more at 8:03 pm. Another seven followed, the last at 9:30 pm.
Seoul’s military “has maintained a close watch for possible North Korean provocations”, the spokesman said.
Yonhap news agency reported that 25 short-range missiles were fired.
South Korean troops have increased vigilance following a series of rocket or missile launches since late February.
The activity coincides with annual South Korea-US military exercises that started in February and will run until mid-April.
Pyongyang routinely condemns such war games as rehearsals for an invasion, while Seoul and Washington say they are purely defensive.
“We urge North Korea to stop provocative activities that will heighten military tension across the border,” the spokesman said.
The North has defended its missile and rocket tests as justifiable self-defence drills.
South Korea has called the launches a “reckless provocation” while Washington urged Pyongyang to halt the tests immediately, saying they risked inflaming regional tensions.
The rocket launch came two days after the North’s National Defence Commission threatened to demonstrate its nuclear deterrence.