North Korea test-fires 3 ship-to-ship missiles into East Sea

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says North Korea test-fired three ship-to-ship missiles into the East Sea from waters by the coastal city of Wonsan between 4:25 and 5:23 p.m, Korea time, on Saturday.
The KN-01 missiles are known to have a range of one-hundred kilometers.
According to the South Korean military, these missiles are the same type as the ones North Korea test-fired in early February, the first time the regime launched ship-to-ship missiles.
In another provocation, Pyongyang sent a fax message through the inter-Korean military hotline, calling on Seoul take up the challenge if it’s prepared to fight.
A day earlier, North Korea threatened to strike, if South Korean navy boats continue to cross its claimed western maritime border.
North Korea doesn’t acknowledge the so-called Northern Limit Line, which was drawn at the end of the Korean War in 1953.
Seoul has vowed to retaliate should Pyongyang carry out a provocation that directly affects the South.
Also on Saturday, North Korea’s news agency said the regime had test-fired its own strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said when the submarine-launched ballistic missile goes into production, and is stationed soon, it will be like installing a time bomb on the regime’s enemies.
South Korean officials are reportedly looking into how big of a security threat Pyongyang’s first submarine missile launch will pose, as the regime may attempt longer-range test-firings in the future.
Experts say North Korea’s latest string of hostile actions are part of its attempt to increase tensions on the peninsula and take the driver’s seat in inter-Korean relations.
Choi You-sun, Arirang News.
Reporter : yschoi@arirang.co.kr