The United States and South Korea launched eight ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday, matching a North Korean missile drill a day earlier that continued a provocative trend in weapons demonstrations.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stressed that if North Korea provoked it, his administration would retaliate sternly.
“We will make sure there isn’t a single crack in protecting the lives and property of our people,” he said.
Hours after North Korea launched several missiles off its east coast, the two allies launched eight ground-to-ground Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), one from the US and seven from South Korea, according to Yonhap.
“The South Korea-U.S. combined firing of the ground-to-ground missiles demonstrated the capability and posture to launch immediate precision strikes on the origins of provocations and their command and support forces,” the JCS said in a press release.
“Our military strongly condemns the North’s series of ballistic missile provocations and seriously urges it to immediately stop acts that raise military tensions on the peninsula and add to security concerns,” it added.
.@USForcesKorea & Republic of Korea militaries conducted a combined live-fire exercise this morning.
— U.S. Forces Korea (@USForcesKorea) June 6, 2022
This exercise used 1 @USArmy missile and 7 @ROK_Army missiles.
Details –> https://t.co/UUe45BCl4z@ROK_MND | @INDOPACOM | @UN_Command | #탄도미사일 pic.twitter.com/4wGnrTjOBu
It is the US and South Korea’s second retaliatory display in as many weeks, following a similar move last week after Pyongyang fired a series of missiles in the immediate aftermath of US President Joe Biden’s visit to the region.
President Yoon, who took office last month, has pledged to take a tougher stance against North Korea.
