DPRK Fires 3 Missiles Including a Long-Range Ballistic Missile into the East Sea

An Air Force KF-16 fighter drops a SPICE 2000 guided bomb toward the north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea on November 2. The Joint Chiefs of Staff explained that the military fired in response to North Korea’s ballistic missile that flew south of the NLL on Wednesday morning. Courtesy of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired three ballistic missiles into the East Sea on November 3, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. North Korea engaged in provocations two days in a row, after firing 25 missiles on four occasions on Wednesday.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced, “The military detected North Korea firing a projectile believed to be a long-range ballistic missile, into the East Sea from Sunan, Pyongyang at around 7:40 a.m. this day, and two projectiles thought to be short-range ballistic missiles, into the East Sea from Kaechon, South Pyongan Province at 8:39 a.m.”

The long-range ballistic missile went through a stage separation, and the propellant separated from the warhead. The military believes the missile was likely an inter-continental ballistic missile and is currently analyzing the details.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff also said, “Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance and is currently maintaining readiness for all possibilities in close cooperation with the U.S.”

On Wednesday, the DPRK fired 25 missiles including a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) near South Korean waters south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea for the first time since the peninsula was divided into the two Koreas. At 6:51 a.m. Wednesday, North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles into the Yellow Sea. At 8:51 a.m. the North fired three SRBMs including one that crossed the NLL near South Korean waters in the East Sea. At 9:12 a.m. they fired over ten missiles of various types into the Yellow Sea and the East Sea. Finally, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. the DPRK fired six missiles of various types into the waters east and west of the Korean Peninsula.

The missile that crossed the NLL was launched from Wonsan, Kangwon Province and fell into the sea 26 kilometers south of the NLL, 57 kilometers east of Sokcho, and 167 kilometers northwest of Ulleungdo Island after flying toward the island. Air-raid alarms were issued in Ulleungdo.

The series of fierce provocations by the North appear to be in protest of Vigilant Storm, a massive joint air drill by South Korea and the United States, which began on October 31 and is scheduled to continue for five days.