LOC18:30
15:30 GMT
TOKYO, Sept 29 (KUNA) -- North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on Thursday, Yonhap News Agency reported citing South Korean military sources.
This is the third such provocation in less than a week, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korean army said, noting that it detected the launches from the Sunchon area in South Pyongan Province (of North Korea) between 8:48 p.m. (1148 GMT), and 8:57 p.m. (1157 GMT).
"While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the US," the JCS was quoted as saying.
Hours earlier, US Vice President Kamala Harris wrapped up a daylong visit to South Korea, during which she met with President Yoon Suk-yeol and toured the Demilitarized Zone bisecting the two Koreas.
She reaffirmed America's security commitment to the East Asian ally. The North fired a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday and another two on Wednesday.
The latest launch came as South Korea and the US concluded a high-profile naval exercise, involving the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier in the East Sea, on Thursday and are set to hold an anti-submarine training with Japan the following day.
Seoul and Washington have been cranking up security coordination amid concerns that Pyongyang could engage in provocative acts, such as a nuclear experiment and a submarine-launched ballistic missile test. (end)
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