North Korea fired several missiles into the West Sea at around 10:30 am on the 28th.
The launch came just one day after the North Korea ordered the expulsion of 11 South Korean managers from the South-North Exchange and Cooperation Office in the Kaesong Complex.
According to Yonhap News, a source in the South Korean government revealed that the North Korean regime ¡°fired around three missiles that seemed to have been Surface to Surface missiles with a range of 46km into the West Sea. Military authorities are closely monitoring North Korea¡¯s moves.¡±
¡°It looked like ordinary military training,¡± noted an affiliate. ¡°We are planning to make an official statement this afternoon based on the facts gathered so far.¡±
From the morning of the 25th until the 26th, North Korea tried to fire Styx anti-ship missiles with a 46km range from a 150-ton missile boat anchored in the West Sea. The North ordered civilian ships to leave the area, but initially balked at the launch.
On the 28th, a spokesperson from the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement declaring that ¡°If the U.S. delays the resolution of the nuclear issue by saying that we have something we don¡¯t have, it would seriously influence the denuclearization process, which has been moving forward thus far.¡±
The spokesman particularly emphasized that ¡°the implementation of the October 3 Agreement of the Six Party Talks was also falling into a stalemate because of the U.S.¡¯s attitude. The U.S. has not implemented its commitment related to the removal North Korea from the state sponsors of terrorism list and has unfairly requested a nuclear program declaration. The U.S. is making up obstacles to impede the resolution.¡±