(LEAD) N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS

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By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Friday, the South Korean military said, a day after South Korea and the United States staged combined aerial drills involving advanced stealth jets.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected what are presumed to be short-range missiles fired off the eastern coastal city of Wonsan at 3:10 p.m. toward the East Sea.

It did not provide further details on flight range and other capabilities as an analysis is currently under way.

"Our military has ramped up monitoring and vigilance against additional launches, while closely sharing information related to North Korean ballistic missiles with the U.S. and Japanese authorities," the JCS said in a text message to reporters.

The launch comes after the North fired 600-mm super-large shells, considered to be short-range ballistic missiles, toward the East Sea on April 22. North Korean state media said leader Kim Jong-un has guided tactical drills simulating a nuclear counterattack involving "super-large" multiple rocket launchers for the first time.

Pyongyang's latest missile launch comes a day after two South Korean F-35As and two U.S. F-22 Raptors carried out joint combat drills over the central region of South Korea in an apparent show of air power against evolving North Korean military threats.

On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a joint statement opposing "acts of military intimidation" against North Korea by the U.S. and its allies during their summit in Beijing.

ejkim@yna.co.kr
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