North Korea launched at least 17 ballistic missiles and about 100 artillery shells towards South Korea.

This is reported by the Yonhap agency.

According to the publication, a short-range ballistic missile crossed the Northern Limit Line in the East Sea.

The missile landed outside South Korea’s territorial waters, but south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a disputed inter-Korean maritime border.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called these launches a territorial encroachment. Seoul responded by launching three surface-to-air missiles into international waters on the North Korean side of the maritime border.

Reuters reports that South Korea used included the AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, which is an American-made “stand-off” precision attack weapon that can fly for up to 270 km.

Also, the military of the Republic of Korea called North Korea’s actions “a serious provocation that harms peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

“As we prepare for additional provocations from North Korea, we will maintain a firm stance of readiness to respond overwhelmingly, ensuring the safety of our people in the event of any provocation, while monitoring and controlling relevant trends in close cooperation between South Korea and the United States,” – says the statement of the military.

Pyongyang launched the launches after North Korea had threatened to take “strong measures” if the US did not end military exercises with its partners.

Because of the missile launches, the transport ministry said South Korea had also closed some air routes to the east of the peninsula.

North Korea has tested a record number of missiles this year, and officials in Seoul and Washington say the North has completed technical preparations to conduct a nuclear weapon test for the first time since 2017.

As previously reported, on October 24, the military of North Korea and South Korea exchanged warning shots off the west coast.

The parties accused each other of violating the maritime border.