South Korea’s presidential office strongly criticized North Korea’s launch of over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday and instructed its military to remain fully prepared during joint exercises with the United States. Following the missile firings from the Pyongyang area towards the eastern sea of the Korean Peninsula, an emergency security meeting was held by the presidential office with officials from the Defence Ministry and military authorities.
Labeling the ballistic missile launch as a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions, South Korea urged North Korea to immediately stop such actions. The country’s response posture was reviewed, and security implications of the launches were assessed during the meeting.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea. This missile barrage occurred after South Korea and the U.S. announced a reduction in their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which were scheduled to end by Friday.
President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to significantly decrease the exercise just before its commencement on Monday, citing a positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s non-participation in U.S. actions in Iran. Trump also disclosed that North Korea possesses 57 potent nuclear weapons, a figure he mentioned for the first time, while South Korean officials estimate the count to be between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister and a prominent figure for the regime, rejected Trump’s proposal on Wednesday, emphasizing that the reduced military drills did not change their provocative nature. She further highlighted the other military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea and South Korea’s efforts to introduce nuclear-powered submarines.
An expert from the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul suggested that the missile launch was intended to underscore a previous warning and signal opposition to the joint military exercises, express displeasure over discussions about North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and caution against external speculation on Pyongyang’s security matters.
During his tenure, Trump expressed concerns over the costs of maintaining U.S. troops in South Korea and emphasized the importance of fair cost-sharing. Despite an existing cost-sharing agreement through 2030, which requires South Korea to contribute towards American troop upkeep, Trump maintains that South Korea’s contribution is insufficient.
Japan’s government and coast guard also reported that North Korea appeared to have fired a ballistic missile towards the sea, with the projectile falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to Seoul, encouraged South Korea to maintain neutrality between Beijing and Washington and advocated for a peaceful coexistence between South Korea and North Korea. Recent meetings between Kim and Xi Jinping indicate a strengthening of ties between China and North Korea.
