More salvos from North Korea, fires missiles into sea

North Korea has a large stockpile of short-range missiles and is developing long-range and intercontinental missiles. Reports of the missiles being fired coincide with already heightened tension on the Korean peninsula after the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket last month, leading to new UN Security Council and bilateral US sanctions. 

The North announced it has scrapped all agreements with the South on commercial exchange projects. It also said it would “liquidate” South Korean assets left behind in the Kaesong industrial zone and in the Mount Kumgang tourist zone. 

Seoul suspended operations in the jointly-run zone last month as punishment for the North’s rocket launch and nuclear test. The North fired six rockets into the sea last week using a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) from Wonsan, supervised by leader Kim Jong Un. US and South Korean troops began large-scale military drills this week. 

North threatened to respond with an all-out offensive. North Korea often fires short-range missiles when tensions rise on the Korean peninsula. Pyongyang gets particularly upset about the annual US-South Korea drills. 

The US and South Korea remain technically at war with the North because the 195053 Korean War ended in an armed truce instead of a peace agreement.