In response to North Korea’s ballistic missile provocations, the South Korean military conducted a live-fire drill with ballistic missiles. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that on the previous day, the military performed a surface-to-surface missile firing exercise in the West Sea. A unit from the Army Missile Strategic Command launched a Hyunmoo-Ⅱ ballistic missile at a firing range in Anheung, South Chungcheong Province. The missile traveled approximately 200 kilometers and hit a target in the southern sea. The drill was conducted with the scenario of responding to an enemy ballistic missile provocation, aiming to precisely strike the provocation origins using the Hyunmoo missile.
The Joint Chiefs stated, “Through this live-fire exercise, the military demonstrated its strong resolve to decisively respond to any provocation from North Korea, as well as its capability and readiness to accurately strike the origin of provocations.” They further emphasized, “Under the firm ROK-U.S. combined defense posture, the military is closely monitoring North Korea’s diverse military activities and maintains the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation.”
North Korea, after firing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-19 on October 31, continued its provocations by launching multiple short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), presumed to be large-caliber multiple rocket launchers (KN-25), on November 5.