SEOUL, Feb 14, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - North Korea fired several cruise missiles
off its east coast on Wednesday, Seoul's military said, the latest in a
string of weapons tests this year.

"Our military detected several unknown cruise missiles over the waters
northeast of Wonsan around 09:00 today (1200 GMT) and South Korea-US
intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis," the Joint
Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

It added that it was "strengthening surveillance and vigilance, and closely
watching for any additional signs and activities from North Korea".

Earlier this week, North Korea announced it had tested of a new control
system for a multiple rocket launcher it said would have an "increased"
battlefield role.

So far this year, Kim has declared South Korea his country's "principal
enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and
threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

Pyongyang has also been ramping up weapons tests, including an "underwater
nuclear weapon system" test and the firing of a solid-fuelled hypersonic
ballistic missile.

It has also launched a flurry of cruise missiles, prompting speculation from
experts that it is testing the weapons before shipping them to Moscow for use
in Ukraine.

Pyongyang and Moscow have bolstered ties in recent months, with leader Kim
Jong Un making a rare trip to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin in
September.

Seoul and Washington have accused the North of supplying Russia with weapons
in exchange for Moscow's technical support for Kim's nascent satellite
program, which would violate a raft of UN sanctions on both regimes.

Unlike their ballistic counterparts, the testing of cruise missiles is not
banned under current UN sanctions on Pyongyang.

Cruise missiles tend to be jet-propelled and fly at a lower altitude than
more sophisticated ballistic missiles, making them harder to detect and
intercept.

- 'Put an end' to South Korea -

Leader Kim repeated on Friday that Pyongyang would not hesitate to "put an
end" to South Korea if attacked, calling Seoul the North's "most dangerous
and first enemy state and invariable arch-enemy".

In January, North Korea fired an artillery barrage near two South Korean
border islands, prompting a live-fire drill by the South and evacuation
orders for residents.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed a strong response if Pyongyang
attacks, calling on his military to "act first, report later" if provoked.

The hawkish Yoon has bolstered defence cooperation with the United States and
Japan since coming to office in 2022, including expanding joint drills, to
counter Pyongyang's growing threats.

Pyongyang has drawn closer to Moscow in other areas than defence, with a
group of Russian tourists -- the first known foreign tour group since before
pandemic-linked border closures in 2020 -- arriving in the North Friday for a
four-day visit.

It has become harder for Russians to travel to Europe and the United States
since sanctions were imposed following the invasion of Ukraine. Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who has also visited Pyongyang, said last
year that the North could be recommended as a tourist destination, Tass
reported.