North Korea says it has successfully tested a multi-launched missile, a sophisticated weapon capable of overcoming missile defences on the US mainland, Korean media reported.
The statement came a day after South Korea’s military said North Korea launched something similar to a hypersonic missile off the country’s east coast but it exploded in midair. South Korea, the US and Japan condemned the launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
In November, North Korea said it had successfully tested solid-propellant engines designed for medium-range ballistic missiles.
In December, North Korea said it tested its newest intercontinental ballistic missile to assess the readiness of its nuclear forces amid “growing US hostility” – Washington and its allies then began using a real-time missile data-sharing system.
Balloon War
On the night of June 27, North Korea sent more than 180 debris balloons towards South Korea, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was the third consecutive launch of rubbish balloons in a week.
About 70 balloons, mostly carrying small pieces of paper, landed in Seoul and northern Gyeonggi province on the outskirts of the capital. Analyses of the retrieved debris showed that it contained no harmful substances.
Earlier in June, Pyongyang sent balloons carrying rubbish toward South Korea. On June 26, domestic and international flights were suspended or delayed for about three hours due to the debris balloons. The June 27 launches were the seventh such action since late May.
South Korean officials said parasites were found in some of the balloons. Seoul’s Unification Ministry specified:
“Numerous parasites such as roundworms and threadworms were found in the soil contained in the rubbish.”
North Korea says it is responding to South Korea’s distribution of propaganda leaflets in this way.
On June 9, South Korea announced its intention to resume broadcasting propaganda broadcasts from loudspeakers on the border with North Korea. Residents of the DPRK border areas will be able to hear K-pop, news and other South Korean programmes.
