North Korea fired several missiles from Sondok toward waters off its east coast on Wednesday, Nov. 4, South Korea said, in what Seoul described as Pyongyang’s fourth weapons launch in a month.
South Korea’s military first reported detecting an unidentified object. The military then said it had confirmed that multiple missiles were launched from the coastal area in South Hamgyong Province. Officials did not immediately disclose the exact number, missile types, flight distances or other technical details.
South Korean and U.S. authorities were examining the launch. Seoul said its forces had detected signs of preparations. Seoul said its forces tracked the missiles after launch.
The reported test came days after North Korea fired more than 10 short-range missiles from near Wonsan on Oct. 29, according to reports from South Korea’s military. The launch also followed state media reports that leader Kim Jong Un had visited a shipyard building a destroyer. His sister, Kim Yo Jong, rejected the possibility of talks with Washington under what she called its hostile policy.
A South Korean missile expert suggested the frequent tests could be linked to preparations for making missiles in large numbers. The expert also suggested the tests could be linked to possible exports to Russia. These are assessments, not confirmed explanations for the latest launch.