South Korea fires air-to-ground missiles in response to North Korea launches

SOUTH Korea's military said it fired three air-to-ground missiles towards north of its maritime border with North Korea on Wednesday in response to the North's missile launches including one which landed less than 60 kilometres off South Korea's coast.

North Korea fired at least 17 missiles into the sea, prompting South Korea to issue rare air raid warnings and launch its own missiles in response. It was the first time a ballistic missile had landed near the South's waters, and the most missiles fired by the North in a single day.

“North Korea continues to provoke tensions on the Korean peninsula while strengthening its nuclear missile programs. This cannot be justified for any reason and the responsibility lies entirely on the North Korean side,” Director of South Korean National Security, Kim Sung-Han, said at a news briefing.