South Korea’s presidential office has strongly denounced North Korea’s firing of over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday. In response, the office has directed the military to remain fully prepared while engaged in joint exercises with the United States. An emergency security meeting was swiftly convened by the presidential office, bringing together officials from the Defence Ministry and military authorities. The missiles were launched from the Pyongyang region towards the east of the Korean Peninsula, leading to concerns over a breach of UN Security Council resolutions. South Korea has urged North Korea to cease such provocative actions promptly.
Following the missile launches, South Korean officials assessed the security implications and discussed appropriate response measures. The missiles reportedly traveled approximately 300 kilometers before landing in the sea, as confirmed by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. This incident occurred shortly after the announcement of a reduction in the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises by the South Korean and U.S. militaries, with President Donald Trump ordering a substantial decrease in the exercises citing improved relations with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s non-participation in actions against Iran.
President Trump further disclosed that North Korea possesses 57 potent nuclear weapons, marking the first time he has disclosed this figure. South Korean authorities estimate the actual number of nuclear warheads possessed by North Korea to be between 80 and 120. In response to Trump’s overture for a meeting with Kim Jong Un this year, the North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, dismissed the proposal. She criticized the reduction in military exercises, stating that the aggressive nature of the drills remains unchanged despite the scaling back in size and duration.
An expert from the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, Yang Moo-jin, suggested that the missile launch aimed to emphasize the seriousness of previous warnings issued by Kim Yo Jong. The launch likely served multiple purposes, including signaling opposition to the joint military exercises, expressing discontent over discussions about North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, and cautioning foreign powers against speculating on Pyongyang’s security affairs. Trump’s past rhetoric towards North Korea, the history of U.S. troops in South Korea, and ongoing cost-sharing agreements were also highlighted in the context of the current tensions in the region.
Japan’s government and coast guard reported a similar ballistic missile launch by North Korea towards the sea. The missile landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, as confirmed by NHK. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to Seoul, encouraged South Korea to maintain impartiality in the U.S.-China relationship and urged the U.S. to adopt a non-hostile approach towards North Korea. Wang emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and highlighted recent strengthening ties between China and North Korea.