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North Korea fires four ballistic missiles as U.S., Seoul end drills

05 November 2022 18:12 (UTC +04:00)

North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles into the western sea on Saturday, South Korea's military said, as Seoul and Washington ended a high-profile six-day military exercise, APA reports citing reuters.

North Korea has launched a series of missiles this week, including a possible failed intercontinental ballistic missile, drawing condemnation from the United States, South Korea and Japan, and raising speculation it could be preparing to resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 2017.

Saturday's launches between 11:31 and 11:59 a.m. (0231-0259 GMT) come as the United States and South Korea finished the "Vigilant Storm" exercise they began on Monday.

The missiles flew about 130 km (80 miles), reaching an altitude of about 20 km (10 miles), Seoul said.

The allied exercise involved some 240 military aircraft and two U.S. B-1B strategic bombers, as well as four F-16 and four F-35A fighters, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.