North Korea New Military Hot Spot? U.S. Ups Missile Defenses As Pyongyang Increases Test Launches

North Korea's spate of missile tests has prompted the U.S. to increase its surveillance and reconnaissance collection in the Yellow Sea, the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) said Thursday.

North Korea had conducted its ninth weapon test last week, firing a suspected ballistic missile toward the sea to the east of the Korean peninsula, barely a month after it declared the only one to stand up to the U.S. by "shaking the world" with missile tests.

"We have made clear our concern over the significant increase in DPRK missile testing activity, which undermines peace and security and is destabilizing to the region and the international community," INDOPACOM said in a statement.

Following this, the command has ordered intensified intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance collection activities in the Yellow Sea, reported Reuters.

The statement added that the command will also ensure "enhanced readiness" among U.S. ballistic missile defense forces in the region. This comes as INDOPACOM shared photos of a U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bomber flying a mission from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

“The United States remains committed to serious and sustained diplomacy toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” INDOPACOM said.

Though North Korea claimed last week that it had carried out "another important test" toward the development of a reconnaissance satellite, South Korea described it as another ballistic missile.

Pyongyang is facing sanctions for its nuclear weapons programs. Though peaceful satellite launches do not come under the same level of restrictions, experts believe they use much of the same technology.

The U.S. too believes North Korea’s missile launches could be the groundwork for a return to intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and nuclear bomb tests this year.

On Thursday, North Korean state media quoted Kim Jong Un who announced the country will launch a number of reconnaissance satellites in coming years to provide real-time information on military actions by the United States and its allies.

However, the satellite work was defended by Kim who says it's for "only about gathering information, but protecting North Korea's sovereignty and national interests."

"He stressed that this urgent project for perfecting the country's war preparedness capacity by improving our state's war deterrent is the supreme revolutionary task, a political and military priority task to which our Party and government attach the most importance," state news agency KCNA reported.