North Korea launched several cruise missiles on Sunday, the South Korean military said, amid rising tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang, AFP reported.

“Our military detected several unidentified cruise missiles fired near the waters around North Korea’s Sinpno region at 08:00 (Saturday, 23:00 GMT),” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

According to NK News, “North Korea fired several ‘unidentified’ cruise missiles off the country’s east coast on Sunday, days after testing a new cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear arsenal.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of the Republic of North Korea, the launch took place around 8:00 a.m. China time in the sea near the North Korean port of Sinpo.

The intelligence services of South Korea and the United States are currently investigating the incident, the JCS added.

“The South Korean military maintains close contact with the United States, while increasing surveillance and vigilance, as well as monitoring North Korea’s future activities,” the statement said.

North Korea’s latest launch came four days after the DPRK launched a new nuclear-capable Pulhwasal-3-31 cruise missile system.

In 2021, Pyongyang began testing the Hwasal-1 and Hwasal-2 long-range cruise missiles and said they could be equipped with tactical nuclear warheads.

The last test of the series took place in September 2023, when state media said it was aimed at demonstrating the capabilities of a nuclear strike on South Korea.

North Korea has said it can launch cruise missiles from mobile vehicles, warships and submarines.