South Korea’s presidential office has denounced North Korea’s firing of over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday and has instructed its military to remain on high alert during the joint military exercises with the United States. Following the missile launches from the Pyongyang area towards the east of the Korean Peninsula, an emergency security meeting was convened by the presidential office with officials from the Defence Ministry and military authorities in attendance. The office stated that the ballistic missile launch is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions and demanded North Korea to cease such actions immediately.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea. The missile launch occurred shortly after the South Korean and U.S. militaries announced a reduction in their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which are set to conclude by the end of Friday. President Donald Trump had ordered a substantial reduction in the exercise just before it commenced, citing a positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s non-participation in the U.S. activities related to Iran.
In response to Trump’s claim that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, rejected the offer for dialogue. She emphasized that the reduced military drills still carry a provocative and aggressive nature. Kim Yo Jong also highlighted previous military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea along with South Korea’s plans to introduce nuclear-powered submarines.
Analysts suggest that the missile launch by North Korea serves various purposes, including expressing opposition to the South Korea-U.S. military exercises, dissatisfaction with discussions on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and cautioning external powers against meddling in Pyongyang’s security affairs. Trump’s engagement with North Korea has fluctuated over the years, from threatening “fire and fury” in response to missile tests to holding summits with Kim, albeit without significant diplomatic progress.
Additionally, Japan reported that North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the sea, which fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to Seoul, urged South Korea to remain neutral between Beijing and Washington and advocated for a peaceful coexistence between South Korea and North Korea. Recent interactions between China and North Korea indicate a strengthening of their relationship, with Kim and Xi Jinping meeting twice in the past year.