North Korea test-fires 2 cruise missiles into Yellow Sea, Seoul claims

ANKARA (AA) – North Korea on Wednesday test-fired two cruise missiles towards the Yellow Sea, the South Korean military claimed.

"(The military) has detected two cruise missiles launched by North Korea from Onchon, South Pyongan Province, into the Yellow Sea early this morning," Yonhap News Agency quoted an unnamed military official as saying.

If confirmed, this will be North Korea's 18th missile test since the beginning of the year.

The missile launched came just hours after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stated that he cannot provide security guarantees to rival North Korea and does not want the status quo to be changed by force.

Yoon also marked his 100th day in office on Wednesday.

On Monday, Yoon offered economic incentives to North Korea in return for denuclearization, saying Pyongyang's denuclearization is "essential" for peace in the region.

South Korea and the US troops are also preparing for annual joint military exercises, which will begin on Monday.

Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned South Korea that any military action against the North would be "wiped out."

"Such a dangerous attempt would be punished immediately by powerful forces, and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and his military would be wiped out," Kim said while addressing an event in the capital Pyongyang.

Tension on the peninsula rose in 2020 when North Korea attacked and blew up the inter-Korean liaison office along the border. Seoul has threatened a strong response if Pyongyang "further worsens the situation."

However, tensions soared further last year when both Seoul and Pyongyang ramped up military drills to show off their might.

The US and South Korea have made repeated offers of dialogue with North Korea in order to defuse current tensions on the peninsula, but it has yet to respond.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid