North Korea fires multiple cruise missiles into West Sea

The cruise missiles were fired three days after it launched two SRBMs in protest to the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise.

Breaking news of North Korea's missile firing shown on a TV at Seoul station on Saturday. [YONHAP]

North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles into the West Sea at around 4 a.m. on Saturday, said the South's military.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are actively analyzing the situation.

"Amid heightened surveillance and increased alertness, South Korea and the U.S. are maintaining their readiness for any situation and closely monitoring any further movements from North Korea," the JSC stated.

The firing of cruise missiles at dawn occurred just three days after North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles in protest of the South Korea-U.S. joint military drill known as 'Ulchi Freedom Shield'.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]