North Korea Fires 2 Short-Range Projectiles

The projectiles, presumed to have been short-range ballistic missiles, were launched at 6:45 a.m. and 7:02 a.m. local time from the DPRK's eastern town of Sondok in South Hamgyong province into the East Sea.

They flew about 380 km at the highest altitude of some 97 km and a maximum speed of Mach 6.5.

The JCS said in a statement that the DPRK projectiles were under the precision analysis by the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States, adding that the South Korean military was closely monitoring the situation and maintaining a firm readiness posture, Xinhua news agency reported.

At the request of Japan, South Korea will share relevant intelligence on the DPRK projectiles with Japan because the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) remained effective, the JCS noted.

South Korea decided Thursday to terminate the GSOMIA, which was signed in November 2016 with Japan to share military intelligence on the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs.

The GSOMIA had been automatically renewed each year in August. As South Korea declined to renew it, the military intelligence-sharing pact will expire in November this year.

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