North Korea fires from rocket launchers, according to Seoul

North Korea fired several shots from rocket launchers on Sunday, the South Korean army said Sunday, the latest episode of a frenzy of weapons tests in Pyongyang this year.

“There were shots this morning that we suspect are from North Korea's multiple rocket launchers,” the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a message to reporters.

“Our army keeps our defenses ready while closely following related events,” he added without further details.

According to the South Korean agency Yonhap, which cites anonymous perpetrators, Pyongyang fired four shots into western waters for one hour starting at 07H20 from an unspecified location in the province of South Pyongan.

The purpose of these shots was being evaluated, the agency added.

The South Korean National Security Council held an emergency meeting and stressed the need to maintain a strong stance of defenses prepared to “prevent a security vacuum during the period of the transitional government,” the presidency said in a statement.

South Korea held presidential elections on March 9, and its winner, Yoon Suk-yeol, who advocates a stronger stance towards the North, will not be inaugurated until May 10.

Seoul and Washington consider that North Korea, with nuclear weapons, is preparing to launch a full-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time since 2017, probably camouflaged as a space launch.

On Wednesday, the South Korean army warned of a failed launch by North Korea, which analysts say could have been that shell.

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