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| ▲ A news report on North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile is aired on a television at Seoul Station on Feb. 27, 2022. (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) N Korea-missile launch
(LEAD) N. Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles eastward: S. Korean military
(ATTN: UPDATES with another launch; ADDS byline)
By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired two unspecified ballistic missiles eastward Wednesday, South Korea's military said, just a day after U.S. President Joe Biden wrapped up his Asia trip highlighting America's security commitment to Seoul and Tokyo.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced the first launch at 6:03 a.m. and the other 49 minutes later in text messages to reporters. They mark the North's 17th show of force this year. Other details were not immediately known.
The highly anticipated launch followed speculation that the North could conduct an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or nuclear test, to bolster its military presence and tighten national unity amid COVID-19 outbreaks and economic woes.
Earlier this month, the North launched what was thought to be an ICBM and then an apparent submarine-launched ballistic missile -- in a move seen as an effort to diversify nuclear delivery vehicles.
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