North Korea fires short-range ballistic missile salvo

North Korea fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles early Tuesday, Seoul's military reported, marking Pyongyang's second launch in days and occurring just hours before Americans vote for a new president.

The nuclear-armed North last week test-fired what it claimed was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in Kim Jong Un's first weapons test since being accused of sending soldiers to assist Russia in its fight against Ukraine.

Pyongyang, which has denied the deployment, is under growing international pressure to withdraw its troops from Russia, with Seoul warning Tuesday that thousands of soldiers were being deployed to frontline areas, including Kursk.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch of "several short-range ballistic missiles" at around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday (2230 GMT) into waters east of the Korean peninsula.

The missiles flew approximately 400 kilometers (248 miles), and Seoul's military reported that it tracked the launch in real-time while sharing information with Tokyo and Washington.

"In preparation for additional launches, our military has strengthened surveillance and alertness," it added.

Tokyo also confirmed Pyongyang's latest weapons test, with top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi stating that the North's "repeated launches of ballistic missiles threaten the peace and security of our country."

On Sunday, South Korea, Japan, and the United States conducted a joint air drill involving a U.S. B-1B bomber, South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets, and Japanese F-2 jets in response to the ICBM launch.

Such joint drills infuriate Pyongyang, which views them as rehearsals for invasion.

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