A missile is launched during what state media report is a hypersonic missile test at an undisclosed location in North Korea, January 11, 2022, in this photo released January 12, 2022 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS
Seoul: North Korea test-fired two cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea on Wednesday, a South Korean military official said, as President Yoon Suk-yeol held a press conference to mark the 100th day since taking office.
In his Liberation Day speech two days earlier, Yoon laid out the details of his "audacious initiative" meant to help the North improve its economy in the event it takes denuclearization steps, according to South Korea's (Yonhap) news agency.
"(The military) has detected two cruise missiles launched by North Korea from Onchon, South Pyongan Province, into the Yellow Sea early this morning," the official said without providing further details, including the exact type of missiles and time of the firing.
South Korean and US intelligence authorities are conducting a related analysis, with the allies maintaining a firm readiness posture, added the official.
The missile launches come just over two months after Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile on June 5, and constitute the fourth round of launches since the Yoon administration took office in May.
While the North is banned from making launches using ballistic missile technologies under UN Security Council resolutions, such a firing of a cruise missile is not in violation of them.
