North Korea Fires Missiles After US Submarine Pulls Into South Korea
North Korea has launched multiple cruise missiles into the sea west of the Korean Peninsula. The ballistic salvo came just after the arrival of the USS Kentucky, a US nuclear-armed submarine, at a South Korean port. This is Pyongyang’s second missile launch in direct response to the US military presence in the region.
South Korea and US Boost Military Vigilance
The missile strikes were detected around 4 am local time on Saturday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed. South Korea has sharply increased surveillance and is working closely with US forces, standing ready amid rising tension. Yonhap News Agency reports joint preparedness measures are in full force.
Just three days prior, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from near Pyongyang, landing some 550km away in waters east of the peninsula. Details on the range of Saturday’s missile launches have not yet been released.
Rising Tensions Fuel Military Drills and Nuclear Alerts
Seoul and Washington are stepping up defence cooperation, conducting joint exercises with cutting-edge stealth jets. Nuclear contingency planning meetings between the allies continue amid mounting hostility.
North Korea’s Defence Minister Kang Sun-nam warned that the US submarine’s presence could justify a nuclear strike. “The docking of USS Kentucky falls under conditions in our nuclear force policy,” he hinted.
South Korea Strikes Back: Threats Met With Firm Resolve
South Korea labels the US submarine’s deployment and ongoing nuclear planning as vital “defensive response measures.” Their defence ministry warned any North Korean nuclear aggression would trigger an “immediate and decisive response” — potentially spelling the end for Kim Jong Un’s regime.
