The Democratic People's Republic of Korea DPRK army launched several cruise missiles, marking the fourth test fire of this type of missile since the beginning of the year, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday, citing the South Korean military. 
 
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) was cited as saying it detected Pyongyang’s launch at around 11:00 a.m. local time (02:00 GMT) from its west coast. The South Korean military did not specify the number of missiles, the report said.

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"While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military has been closely coordinating with the United States to monitor additional signs of North Korea's provocations," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement, noting that the missiles were fired toward the Yellow Sea at 11:00 am. 

Nuclear advancements

The previous launch was recorded on January 24, JCS stated earlier, without disclosing the number of missiles fired.

At the time, Pyongyang announced carrying out a test-firing of a new type of cruise missile, Pulhwasal-3-31, intended to be launched from submarines, adding that the test was overseen by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim also assessed advancements in the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, state media reported then.

The United States, South Korea, and Japan engaged in extensive joint naval exercises, as reported by South Korea's military on January 17. Concurrently, senior diplomats from the three allies were scheduled to convene in Seoul to address the escalating tensions with the DPRK.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang increased its weapon testing activities since the new year to include underwater nuclear weapon testing and a solid-fuel hypersonic ballistic missile, especially amid US-South Korea military exercises in the region.

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