North Korea launches short-range ballistic missiles into sea, South Korea says

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea Thursday in what South Korea is calling a "clear act of provocation." 

Lee Sung Joon, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the launches were possibly intended to test the performance of weapons that North Korea plans to export as it continues to send military equipment and troops to fuel Russia’s warfighting against Ukraine. 

The agency said multiple missiles were launched from an area around North Korea’s eastern port city of Wonsan from about 8:10 to 9:20 a.m. local time Thursday, with the farthest traveling about 497 miles. 

Lee said the tests likely involved a short-range ballistic missile system launched from vehicles — pos...