North Korea Ignores New Sanctions, Launches 5 Missiles: Satellite Imagery Confirms Maintenance At Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site

Ignoring a new round of UN sanctions and diplomatic efforts around the world, the North Korean military launched five short-range missiles into the East Sea on Monday.

CNN reports that the projectiles were launched between 3:19 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. Korea Standard Time (2:19 a.m. to 3:05 a.m. EST) just south of the North Korean city of Hamhung, the capital of South Hamgyong province. North Korea has launched 15 "various projectiles" on four different days since early February, according to the news outlet.

And according to an article Friday from the North Korean policy website 38 North, run by the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site appears to be in full-swing operationally, with satellite imagery from March 6 and March 14 reportedly showing employees maintaining the facility.

"Recent commercial satellite imagery indicates continued activity at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site that does not appear directed at further tunnel excavation but rather to maintain existing tunnels as well as to clean up after the January 2016 nuclear test," wrote 38 North analyst Jack Liu.

"It is highly likely that site is capable of supporting additional tests at any time."

Last week, South Korean president Park Geun Hye threatened that if North Korea walks "the path of self-destruction by itself, if it does not move toward the path of change while continuing its provocations and strong confrontation with the international community," according to the Yonhap News Service.