NORTH Korea fired what appeared to be multiple rocket launchers today, Seoul said, the latest in a series of provocations by the nuclear-armed nation to heighten tensions in the region.

The South Korean military detected “flight trajectories” that were suspected to be shots from North Korean artillery, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

“Our military spotted flight trajectories that are suspected to be North Korea’s multiple rocket launchers from around 6.21 – 6.37pm today,” said the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a text message to reporters.

“Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance, and maintained a thorough readiness posture while keeping close US-South Korea cooperation,” it added, without further details.

Seoul authorities did not share how many trajectories were detected in total.

The presidential National Security Office held a meeting over the North’s firing, and said it was “closely monitoring” the situation in case of additional launches by Pyongyang.

North Korea has carried out a blitz of sanctions-busting weapons tests this year, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017.

Washington and Seoul officials have also warned that the isolated regime is preparing to carry out what would be its 7th nuclear test—a move that the United States warned would provoke a “swift and forceful” response.

Last month, South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup said Seoul would “strengthen” its defence capabilities, as well as its security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo, to counter the nuclear threat from Pyongyang.

A total of 6 US top-of-the-line F-35A fighters arrived in the South last week for a 10-day allied exercise running until July 14, in the first public deployment of American stealth warplanes in the country since late 2017. – AFP, July 10, 2022.