On Sunday, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, according to South Korea’s military. This action followed North Korea’s recent declaration of its nuclear-armed status and rejection of a United Nations resolution to halt its nuclear activities. Despite these military demonstrations, President Trump recently reduced the scale of a joint military exercise with South Korea, aiming to improve diplomatic relations with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.
The missile launches occurred from the eastern coastal region of Wonsan, approximately three hours apart. The first missile traveled around 280 miles, while the second covered over 370 miles, directed towards North Korea’s eastern waters, as reported by South Korea’s military. “South Korean and U.S. authorities are conducting a detailed analysis to determine its exact specifications,” stated South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff about the second missile.
The missiles ultimately landed in the sea. In response, South Korea’s presidential office called for an immediate halt to North Korea’s ballistic missile launches, which violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. The South Korean military affirmed its readiness, alongside the U.S., to counter any provocations from the North. Meanwhile, Japan’s Defense Ministry indicated detection of a suspected North Korean missile on Sunday, though it did not enter Japanese territorial waters.
Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, dismissed President Trump’s recent diplomatic gesture, stating that reducing the military drill’s scale would not alter its “provocative, aggressive nature.” Following North Korea’s warning, about 10 short-range ballistic missiles were launched toward the sea, as a reaction to the U.S.-South Korean drill. Additionally, Kim Yo Jong criticized a recent U.S.-led multilateral maritime exercise, “Pacific Vanguard,” involving the U.S., South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, describing it as a “frantic military move” to maintain influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
She asserted that “regular U.S.-led war rehearsals” are exacerbating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. Kim Yo Jong emphasized North Korea’s stance, stating, “Our will to defend our sovereignty will be expressed in clearer action and there will be never ever change in the course of intensifying the nuclear war deterrence.”
Earlier in the month, North Korea conducted a live-fire drill with missiles, artillery, and drones. This exercise occurred shortly after the U.S., South Korea, and Japan completed a five-day trilateral military drill, which North Korea labeled as a provocation. The live-fire drill aimed to test the capability of overwhelming South Korean and U.S. air defenses by launching multiple weapon types simultaneously.
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