North Korea launches multiple ballistic missiles

Defencecaffairs - KNPA-PRESS

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Sunday morning, according to South Korea’s military, marking Pyongyang’s first missile launches of the year.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired from an area near Pyongyang at about 7:50 a.m. local time and traveled approximately 900 kilometers before landing in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. The military said it has maintained an enhanced readiness posture following the launches.

The missile launches were carried out as regional leaders prepared for a summit between South Korea and China scheduled for Monday, where North Korea is expected to be on the agenda. Seoul has been pressing Beijing to take a more active role in efforts aimed at denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

The launches represent Pyongyang’s first missile activity this year. North Korea’s most recent prior test occurred on November 7, when it fired a short-range ballistic missile into the East Sea, according to South Korean military records.

The United States acknowledged the launches and said it was coordinating with allies. In a public statement, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said: “We are aware of the missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies. The United States remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region.”

South Korea’s Presidential Office convened an emergency security meeting after the launches. Officials told Reuters that two ballistic missiles were fired into the East Sea, prompting consultations among senior defense and national security officials in Seoul.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were conducting a detailed analysis of the missiles, including their type and flight characteristics. No immediate damage or casualties were reported in connection with the launches.

Ballistic missile tests by North Korea are prohibited under multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, but Pyongyang has continued such activity in recent years as it expands its missile programs. The regime has argued that the tests are part of its sovereign right to self-defense, a position rejected by the United States and its allies.