North Korea fires 'multiple cruise missiles' to Japan as Kim Jong Un reels from disaster
North Korea has fired multiple cruise missiles towards Japan, according to military officials in Seoul, with the exact number and type of missiles fired still unknown
Senior members of the military are sounding the alarm after North Korea launched several cruise missiles towards Japan, in line with the isolated nation's recent show of major lethal firepower.
Preliminary reports suggest that a number of high-speed rockets were fired into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, around 9am local time, though the exact count remains uncertain.
The cruise missiles are believed to have been launched from North Korea's eastern region of Sondok in South Hamgyong Province, with a joint South Korean and US military intelligence team investigating the precise number and type of missiles dispatched by Kim Jong Un's regime. It comes amid growing global tensions as Donald Trump issued a chilling 11-word ultimatum to Iran.
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Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff alerted the public to the missile barrage shortly after launch, reporting that they had received intelligence of the launch beforehand and were already on high alert.
This marks the fifth time this year that Kim Jong Un has sent cruise missiles hundreds of miles towards other countries, reports the Express.
This display of North Korea's military might coincide with the country's efforts to enhance its military capability, partly through a deal with Russia's Vladimir Putin to put Kim Jong Un's troops on the frontline in Ukraine.
Just a fortnight ago, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un oversaw previous missile launches off his country's east coast, sending projectiles 500 miles into the Sea of Japan with the aim of demonstrating North Korea's military readiness, as well as testing out some new hardware.
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Nevertheless, the barrage of cruise missiles comes after a severe embarrassment for the North Korean leader due to the sinking of his new 5,000-ton warship. The ship sank before even leaving the dock, prompting Kim to furiously seek out the 'criminal' elements within his regime he believes are attempting to sabotage him.
Enraged, Kim described the incident as a "serious accident that could not have happened, could not be tolerated," and is currently pinpointing officials responsible for the disaster.
