A South Korean soldier stands watching the North side at the joint security area of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) near Paju, South Korea on February 18. South Korea’s president said it’s her goal to stop the tyranny of the North Korean regime – the same day North Korea fired six projectiles from the western coast of the peninsula. Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo

SEOUL, March 3 (UPI) -- South Korea's president said it's her goal to stop the tyranny of the North Korean regime – the same day North Korea fired six projectiles from the western coast of the peninsula.

The projectiles, that were either short-range rockets or guided missiles, were fired about 10 a.m. Seoul time, according to the South's Defense Ministry.


The projectiles traveled about 60 to 90 miles over the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, local news network Channel A reported.

Some South Korean media outlets have said the provocation was a response to the new United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang, while others said the North was demonstrating belligerence as the United States and South Korea were preparing for a large-scale military exercise on March 7. The Key Resolve drill is to include more than 90,000 South Korean and 15,000 U.S. troops.

Ahead of the exercises, 3,200 troops of the Third Marine Division of the U.S. Marine Corps arrived in the port city of Busan from Okinawa, Japan, in preparation for the training.

President Park Geun-hye said she would try to put a stop to Pyongyang's tyranny, working with the international community to pressure the North to abandon its "reckless nuclear program" and "end the tyranny that has deprived North Koreans of their freedom and human rights."

This is the first time Park has used the term "tyranny" to refer to the North Korean rule of Kim Jong Un.

Seoul has supported the tough measures that were passed at the United Nations Security Council, and in February caused uproar among politicians after suspending operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

These measures to pressure Pyongyang, however, have ratcheted up tensions on the peninsula, and North Korea provocations are expected to increase, South Korean news service Newsis reported.

North Korea could send ships south of a disputed maritime border, the Northern Limit Line, demonstrate a show of force at the demilitarized zone, or conduct cyberattacks against the South, according to Seoul's military.

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