South Korea conducts live-fire missile interception drills

South Korea conducted live-fire missile interception drills on Wednesday to demonstrate its air defense capabilities, a day after North Korea launched ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

The drills, coordinated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), were held in a western coastal area in response to the North's missile activity, News.Az reports, citing Yonhap.

The Air Force's Air & Missile Defense Command mobilized two Cheongung-II and Patriot units each to fire surface-to-air missiles and intercept simulated targets under a scenario of an enemy missile attack, the JCS said.

"This exercise took place to demonstrate our military's capabilities and posture and firm resolve to respond immediately and overwhelmingly to increasing North Korean missile threats," the JCS said in a release.

South Korea operates the homegrown Cheongung-II mid-range surface-to-air missile system and the U.S.-made Patriot system to strike down incoming targets at altitudes of up to 40 kilometers.

On Tuesday, North Korea fired the ballistic missiles from the Sariwon area in the western province of North Hwanghae, and they flew about 400 km before splashing into the sea.

The launches apparently involved the North's KN-25 super-large 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers, which is believed to be capable of striking anywhere in South Korea when fired from Sariwon.

North Korea's latest saber-rattling came five days after it launched the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile into the East Sea on Thursday.

News.Az