South Korea accuses North Korea of ​​firing multiple cruise missiles into the sea

North Korea fired a salvo of unidentified cruise missiles into the Sea of ​​Japan on Thursday, May 22, the South Korean military announced, claiming to have detected the missiles near the North Korean province of South Hamgyong.

The shots come shortly after a "serious accident" occurred Wednesday during a launching ceremony for a 5,000-ton destroyer in the port city of Chongjin.

North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of ​​Japan on May 8 , according to the South Korean military, with experts suggesting a possible weapons test intended for Russia. The missile launch had no impact on neighboring Japan, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

North Korea and Russia signed a mutual defense treaty in June 2024 , which obliges them to provide military assistance "without delay" in the event of an attack and to cooperate internationally to oppose Western sanctions.

United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear program prohibit it from possessing ballistic missiles, which travel most of their trajectory outside the Earth's atmosphere. Cruise missiles, however, which fly at low altitude and are powered by a jet engine, are not covered by these sanctions.