North Korea missile launches may have followed South Korean hypersonic test

North Korea’s ballistic missile launches on Monday appeared to be a response to South Korea’s test of a hypersonic glide vehicle last week, the South Korean military said.

North Korea fired multiple missiles toward the East Sea, with at least one travelling more than 900 kilometres (559 miles), according to Yonhap News Agency.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launches at about 9:20 a.m. local time (0020 GMT) from the Pyongyang area.

JCS spokesperson Jang Do-young said the launches could also be intended to demonstrate progress under North Korea’s five-year defence development plan, Yonhap reported.

Jang did not confirm whether the missiles were hypersonic or intermediate-range weapons, saying further technical analysis was needed.

South Korea carried out its first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle on Thursday. Japan also detected two suspected ballistic missiles, which reportedly fell outside its exclusive economic zone.

The launches come amid tensions following a land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone on Sept. 21 that injured three South Korean soldiers, two of them seriously.

Seoul accused North Korean troops of deliberately planting the mines after a joint investigation with the UN Command. Pyongyang denied responsibility, accused Seoul of fabricating the findings and warned of retaliation against any military counteraction.

North Korea has not made a public statement about Monday’s launches.