Politics

South Korea tests two submarine-launched ballistic missiles

Seoul, Apr 22 (EFE).- South Korea successfully tested two submarine-launched ballistic missiles this week, local media said Friday citing military sources, at a time of special tension on the peninsula due to the incessant escalation of weapons to both sides of the 38th parallel.

The army launched the missile from the Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine Monday in the Yellow Sea, and the director of the National Security Bureau, Suh Hoon, was present.

The projectiles flew about 400 kilometers and hit pre-arranged maritime targets, according to the source.

It is the second test of this type after the one carried out in September by South Korea, when it successfully tested a Hyunmoo IV-4 missile for the first time and thus became the eighth country in the world (North Korea being among the eight) capable of launching such missiles.

The South Korean navy said it hopes to field this year its second Dosan Ahn Chang-ho class submarine, a 3,000-tonne submersible capable of carrying six of the missiles.

The South Korean test comes at a time marked by the escalation of weapons on the Korean peninsula, with the North also conducting a record number of projectile tests, 13, since the beginning of the year, including its first launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017.

Seoul and Washington are carrying out manoevers in the south of the peninsula until next week, a North Korea prepares to celebrate a great military parade Monday to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of its army on Apr. 25. EFE

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