Seoul, Aug 17, (dpa/GNA) – South Korea, on Wednesday said North Korea has fired two cruise missiles, in a new weapons test.
The two suspected guided missiles, flew in the direction of the Yellow Sea, the Ministry of Defence said in Seoul. How far the projectiles flew was initially unclear.
UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from testing ballistic missiles, which, depending on the design, can also carry nuclear warheads.
Tests of cruise missiles, however, are not subject to sanctions against the largely isolated country. Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles have their own permanent propulsion system.
At a press conference marking his first 100 days of office, South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, stressed that his government in Seoul does not want to use force to change the status quo in North Korea.
At the same time, Yoon made it clear on Wednesday that his government could not give any security guarantees for isolated neighbouring North Korea.
The conservative South Korean leader, was asked how Seoul would react, if North Korea demanded such guarantees in return for Pyongyang’s denuclearization.
Two days ago, Yoon had renewed a proposal to help North Korea economically, if the country were to begin dismantling its nuclear weapons programme.
“You don’t have to complete denuclearization before we do anything,” Yoon said on Wednesday.
As long as North Korea showed it was determined to disarm, South Korea was ready to help, Yoon asserted.
He noted, “guaranteeing regime security is something South Korea cannot do.”
By denuclearization, the United States and South Korea mean the complete dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear programme.
The North Korean leadership in Pyongyang had so far not responded to Yoon’s proposals, nor to similar ideas floated by previous South Korea governments.
North Korea has already tested missiles several times this year. The country’s ballistic missile tests have increased tensions in the region since the start of the year.
Pyongyang is subject to tough international sanctions, because of its nuclear weapons programme.
However, the US and South Korea also fear, that North Korea could carry out a new nuclear weapons test at any time.
GNA