N. Korea Lauds Missile Tests as Successful

March 7, 2017

Seoul- North Korea's state-run news agency reported Tuesday that the country has successfully tested the simultaneous firing of four ballistic missiles designed to attack U.S forces in Japan.

Viewing the test launches on site, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his satisfaction at the accuracy of his country's missile technologies by saying they were flying like an acrobatic squadron, according to the report by the Korean Central News Agency.

The four missiles are believed to be those fired on Monday from a northwestern area in the reclusive state into the Sea of Japan, with three of them believed to have fallen into Japan's exclusive economic zone, pundits said.

A South Korean military source said the missiles were believed to be a revised Scud type. The South Korean media reported they were the Scud-ER with a range of 1,000 kilometers.

Meanwhile, the CNN television reported that U.S. authorities have provisionally deemed that North Korea tested five Scud missiles with an extended range, with one of them failing.

U.S. Defense Department spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told a press conference in Washington that four missiles landed in the sea. He hinted at the possibility of North Korea having launched more missiles but declined to comment further.

The North Korean move came after the United States and South Korea began their annual joint military drills on Wednesday.

The missile tests were conducted to see how well strategic artillery troops can work on nuclear warheads and how swiftly they can complete their jobs, the KCNA said. The troops are assigned to attack U.S. bases in Japan in case of emergency.

The troops were filled with the determination to retaliate against those forcing ahead the joint military drills to destroy peace and stability on the KoreanPeninsula, the new agency said.
Jiji Press