North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea on Thursday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The missiles, which traveled approximately 360 kilometers from North Korea's capital, landed in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. No immediate damage was reported, but Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called for measures to ensure the safety of ships and aircraft.
The missile test is viewed as a direct threat to South Korea, with the South Korean military condemning it as a grave provocation; the flight distance suggests the missiles may have been designed with South Korea in mind. This follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's reaffirmation to enhance his nuclear arsenal for potential confrontations with the US and its allies. Experts suspect Pyongyang may soon conduct a nuclear test or long-range missile launch to strengthen its position in future negotiations with Washington.
These launches follow a two-month hiatus in North Korea's public weapons testing, with prior claims of developing a new tactical missile capable of carrying a "super-large" warhead. A recent satellite analysis showed minor damage caused by recent heavy rain at North Korea's nuclear test site, but no significant tunnelling activities. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)