North Korea launches short-range ballistic missiles
North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military reported, a day after North Korea dismissed a U.S. decision to scale back military drills with South Korea in an apparent bid to resume diplomacy, reports BritPanorama.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff noted that the launches occurred from North Korea’s capital region around 5 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) on Thursday, targeting the eastern waters. The specific type of missiles has not been disclosed by the military.
In response to the launches, South Korea has heightened its surveillance posture and is closely coordinating information regarding the events with the U.S. and Japan.
South Korea’s presidential national security council convened an emergency meeting to discuss the missile launches. Following the discussion, the council issued a statement calling on North Korea to cease ballistic missile launches that contravene U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The Japanese prime minister’s office also detected a suspected missile launch, highlighting the regional implications of North Korea’s missile activity.
On Wednesday, the South Korean and U.S. militaries announced plans to scale back their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. President Donald Trump had previously ordered a substantial reduction of these exercises just ahead of their commencement, citing a favorable relationship with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s lack of support regarding the war in Iran.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, later dismissed Trump’s overture, asserting it was not deserving of comment. She emphasized, “The provocative, aggressive nature of the drills won’t change even though their duration and size were reduced,” adding that U.S. assumptions about good faith would not yield the desired responses.
Kim Yo Jong referenced other military drills conducted by the U.S. and South Korea earlier this year and South Korea’s plans for nuclear-powered submarines as further context for her stance.
Despite the sharp tone, she refrained from issuing the typical fiery rhetoric that characterizes North Korean responses, stating that personal relations between her brother and Trump remain “still excellent.” This nuance indicates that North Korea might hold off on re-engaging in talks until Trump offers larger concessions.
Furthermore, she denied Trump’s claim that Kim Jong Un had positively reacted to his request for a conversation, underlining the complexities of diplomatic communication.
When asked about a potential meeting with Kim Jong Un this year, Trump affirmed he would meet but refrained from commenting on whether he was exchanging letters with the North Korean leader.
The situation remains fluid, highlighting the challenging dynamics of inter-Korean relations and international diplomacy in the region.
