North Korea fires ballistic missile towards sea: S. Korea [Video]

SEOUL, South Korea –

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to put his nuclear force fully ready for battle with its rivals.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the missiles launched from North Korea’s capital flying 360 kilometres (about 220 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed officials to ensure the safety of ships and aircraft, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

The reported fight distances suggest the missiles were designed to attack South Korea. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the launches as a provocation that poses a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The launches were North Korea’s first public weapons firing activities in more than two months. On July 1, North Korea …