North Korea's missile launch ahead of US elections condemned

North Korea launched a volley of short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday morning local time, the South Korean military reported. The South Korean Yonhap news agency suggested that these provocations might be an effort to demonstrate strength in the lead-up to the US elections.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that around 6:50 AM local time (5:50 PM Tuesday Eastern Time), it detected the launch of North Korean short-range ballistic missiles from the Kaechon area in South Pyongan province, about 44 miles north of Pyongyang.

JCS stated that the missiles flew approximately 250 miles in a northeasterly direction, without providing further details such as the number of missiles launched or the target area.

The missile launches were also confirmed by Japan.

"We strongly condemn the North Korean missile launch as a clear act of provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," JCS said in a statement quoted by Yonhap.

Last Friday, September 13th, North Korea revealed for the first time a military-purpose uranium enrichment facility. This occurred a day after launching several short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea. State media reported that a new Hwasong-11Da4.5 missile was tested at its maximum and minimum range, adding that it can carry a 10,000-pound "super-large warhead."

Yonhap news agency pointed out that the intensification of Kim Jong Un's regime's "provocative" actions is seen as a show of strength ahead of the US presidential elections scheduled for November 5th and an attempt to raise the stakes in the next round of negotiations with Washington.