Seoul/Tokyo: North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward its east coast on Wednesday, according to statements from South Korea and Japan. The launch comes just days after North Korea revealed a uranium enrichment facility and pledged to strengthen its nuclear arsenal.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that the missiles were fired from Kaechon, located north of Pyongyang, at approximately 6:50 a.m. (2150 GMT Tuesday). The missiles traveled in a northeast direction, covering a distance of around 400 kilometers (249 miles). The JCS did not provide specific details on the number of missiles launched or their landing locations.
“We strongly condemn North Korea’s missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula,” the JCS stated, emphasizing their commitment to respond decisively to any further provocations.
Roughly 30 minutes after the first launch, Japan’s coast guard reported that North Korea had fired another ballistic missile. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara confirmed that at least one missile fell near North Korea’s eastern inland coast, stating that the actions “cannot be tolerated.”
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command acknowledged the launches via X (formerly known as Twitter), confirming that it was in close consultation with both South Korea and Japan.
Last Thursday, North Korea conducted a similar launch, marking its first in over two months. Pyongyang later described this launch as a test of a new 600-mm multiple launch rocket system. The JCS in South Korea suggested that these recent tests might be aimed at showcasing weapons potentially intended for export to Russia, amidst growing military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
There have been allegations from the United States, South Korea, and Ukraine accusing North Korea of supplying rockets and missiles to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In return, North Korea is believed to be receiving economic and military assistance from Moscow.
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Amidst these developments, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow on Tuesday. The meeting, which took place during Choe’s visit to Russia to attend conferences, involved discussions on enhancing bilateral relations, as reported by the Russian foreign ministry.
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These missile launches come shortly after North Korea, for the first time, released images of centrifuges used to produce nuclear bomb fuel. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was shown visiting a uranium enrichment facility, where he called for the production of more weapons-grade material to expand the country’s nuclear arsenal.
