In a brazen display of military strength, North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles, coinciding with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Seoul for a Summit for Democracy. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, several short-range ballistic missiles were fired from a province southeast of Pyongyang at approximately 7:44 a.m. Monday.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed the launches in parliament, noting that the projectiles fell outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, resulting in no reported damage. Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported that three ballistic missiles were fired towards waters off the east coast, reaching a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers (31 miles) and traveling approximately 350 km. While the ministry did not specify the type of projectiles, the trajectory resembled previous tests of short-range ballistic missiles by North Korea.
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This marks North Korea’s first ballistic missile test in approximately two months, with the nature of the missiles launched remaining unclear. The timing of the launch, coinciding with high-profile political events involving the US, South Korea, and Japan, suggests a deliberate provocation by Kim Jong Un’s regime.
In mid-January, North Korea conducted its last ballistic missile test, launching an intermediate-range rocket capable of targeting US bases in Asia. The state media described the projectile as a “hypersonic” missile, indicating advancements in reentry vehicle technology for potential nuclear warheads.
