North Korea Launches Several Cruise Missiles Toward Yellow Sea Amid Escalating Tensions

Defense News ,North Korea :- In the latest provocation from North Korea, the country fired multiple cruise missiles towards the Yellow Sea on Wednesday, according to the South Korean military. This move follows a series of heightened military activities by the nuclear-armed state, including tests of an "underwater nuclear weapon system" and a solid-fuelled hypersonic ballistic missile.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff released a statement confirming the launch, stating, "Our military detected several cruise missiles launched by North Korea towards the Yellow Sea at around 7:00 am today." The detailed specifications of the missiles are under close analysis by South Korean and US intelligence authorities.

Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missile testing is not prohibited under current UN sanctions against Pyongyang. Cruise missiles, being jet-propelled and flying at lower altitudes, pose a challenge in terms of detection and interception compared to more advanced ballistic missiles.

The missile launch coincides with South Korea conducting a 10-day special forces infiltration drill off its east coast, citing "serious security situations" with the North. The drill aims to achieve deep infiltration into the enemy's territory and neutralize threats under any circumstances.

Recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared South Korea as the country's "principal enemy," dismantled agencies dedicated to reunification, and issued threats of war over even minor territorial infringements. In response to the missile launch, South Korea's defense minister warned that North Korea would face the end of its regime if it initiated war.

President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized that in the event of a provocation by North Korea, South Korea would respond with a force "multiple times stronger," highlighting the nation's overwhelming response capabilities.

Tensions between the two Koreas have escalated in recent months, with both sides abandoning key tension-reducing agreements, increasing frontier security, and conducting live-fire drills along the border. Kim also expressed the North's refusal to recognize the de facto maritime border with the South and called for constitutional changes to "occupy" Seoul in the event of war.

President Yoon Suk Yeol asserted that South Korea is prepared for any provocation and will respond with an overwhelming force, while Kim's recent threats and military buildup underscore the fragile state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula.