N.Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles Amid S.Korea-U.S. Military Drills

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea on Tuesday as South Korea and the U.S. conducted massive military exercises.

The missiles were fired from Jangyon in South Hwanghae Province and flew about 620 km before falling into the East Sea. They are believed to be an improved version of the KN-23 Iskander missile apparently intended to strike South Korea with small tactical nuclear warheads, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff here. They could hit any target in South Korea including Jeju Island.

The southwestern town of Jangyon lies only about 10 km from Bangnyeong Island, South Korea's northwesternmost island in the West Sea. It seems that the North has been switching launch locations to avert counterattacks against them.

Tuesday's launches came just two days after the North fired two cruise missiles from a submarine in waters off Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province on Sunday.

U.S. reconnaissance aircraft were flying over the West Sea at the time to track the trajectories and impact points of the missiles.