SEOUL: North Korea fired several ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Wednesday, according to South Korea’s military, following another launch detected a day earlier. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the short-range missiles were launched at around 8:50 a.m. from near Wonsan. The missiles flew about 240 km, and South Korean and United States authorities are conducting further analysis.
A separate projectile launched Tuesday from near Pyongyang is also believed to have been a ballistic missile. Seoul convened an emergency National Security Council meeting, calling the launches a provocation that violates United Nations Security Council resolutions, and urged Pyongyang to halt such tests.
Japan said the missiles did not enter its territorial waters or exclusive economic zone and caused no damage, but warned the actions threaten regional and international security.
These launches mark North Korea’s fourth and fifth ballistic missile tests this year, following earlier launches in January and March. Pyongyang rejects UN restrictions, calling them a violation of its sovereign right to self-defence.
The launches come amid heightened tensions after a senior North Korean official dismissed Seoul’s diplomatic outreach. Jang Kum Chol said Pyongyang continues to view South Korea as a hostile state, adding that this stance would not change.
The remarks followed an earlier statement by Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, which some in Seoul had interpreted as conciliatory. However, North Korean officials later clarified it was intended as a warning. In response, South Korea said hostile rhetoric undermines peace efforts and reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
