The missiles had been fired from 11:13 am (0213 GMT) to 12:05 pm, South Korea stated.(Representational)

Seoul:

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles Sunday, Seoul’s army stated, days after Pyongyang introduced a profitable check of a solid-fuel motor for a brand new weapons system.

Military tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen sharply this yr as Pyongyang has carried out an unprecedented blitz of weapons assessments, together with the launch of its most superior intercontinental ballistic missile ever final month.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated it detected two ballistic missiles that had been fired from the Tongchang-ri space in North Pyongan province.

The missiles had been fired from 11:13 am (0213 GMT) to 12:05 pm into the East Sea, it stated, referring to the physique of water also referred to as the Sea of Japan.

“Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance while closely cooperating with the United States and maintaining a full readiness posture,” the JCS added in a press release.

The missiles flew about 500 kilometres and reached a most altitude of round 550 kilometres, based on Japan’s defence ministry.

“It threatens the peace and security of our country, this region, and the international community, and it is absolutely unacceptable,” stated senior vice defence minister Toshiro Ino.

Sunday’s launch got here days after North Korea examined a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor”, with state media describing it as an essential check “for the development of another new-type strategic weapon system”.

Despite heavy worldwide sanctions over its weapons programmes, Pyongyang has constructed up an arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

All its recognized ICBMs are liquid-fuelled, nevertheless, and North Korean chief Kim Jong Un has positioned strategic precedence on creating solid-fuel engines for extra superior missiles.

Kim stated this yr that he needs North Korea to have the world’s strongest nuclear power, and declared his nation an “irreversible” nuclear state.

The wishlist he revealed final yr included solid-fuel ICBMs that could possibly be launched from land or submarines.

The newest motor check was a step in the direction of that purpose, however it’s not clear how far North Korea has come within the improvement of such a missile, analysts stated.

Key get together assembly

The remoted nation’s coverage course for subsequent yr will probably be laid out at a key get together assembly later this month, and the official Korean Central News Agency earlier reported Kim saying that 2023 could be a “historic year”.

In previous years, Kim had delivered a speech each January 1, however has not too long ago dropped the custom in favour of creating bulletins on the year-end plenary assembly.

In his most up-to-date handle, which was launched final New Year’s Day, Kim targeted on home affairs.

Experts say whereas Kim avoided straight addressing the United States final yr, he may change his tone this time round.

The United States and South Korea have warned for months that North Korea is making ready to conduct its seventh nuclear check.

North Korea is below a number of UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear and missile exercise since 2006.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)