South Korea’s presidential office has strongly criticized North Korea’s firing of over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday. The office has instructed the military to remain on high alert during the ongoing joint military exercises with the United States. Following North Korea’s launch of the missiles from the Pyongyang area towards the east of the Korean Peninsula, an emergency security meeting was convened by the presidential office. Officials from the Defence Ministry and military authorities were present at the meeting.
The presidential office stated that the ballistic missile launch is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions. They called on North Korea to immediately cease such provocative actions. South Korean officials assessed the security implications of the missile launches, reviewed the country’s response readiness, and discussed necessary measures in response to the situation.
The missiles flew approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. This missile activity occurred a day after the South Korean and U.S. militaries announced a reduction in their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which are set to conclude by the end of Friday.
President Donald Trump had ordered a significant reduction in the military exercises just before they began, citing a positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s decision not to support the U.S. in its actions regarding Iran. Trump confirmed that he would be meeting with Kim this year and mentioned that North Korea possesses around 57 powerful nuclear weapons, a figure he cited for the first time.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister and a prominent spokesperson for the regime, dismissed Trump’s gestures, stating that reducing the duration and size of military drills would not change their provocative and aggressive nature. She emphasized that the drills still send hostile signals to North Korea. Kim Yo Jong also mentioned other military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea, along with South Korea’s plans to introduce nuclear-powered submarines.
An expert from the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, Yang Moo-jin, interpreted the missile launch as a message aimed at signaling opposition to the South Korea-U.S. military exercises, expressing discontent over discussions about North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and warning external powers against speculating on Pyongyang’s security matters. The launch may have also been a test of improved missile systems, according to Yang.
The article also highlighted Trump’s history with North Korea, including his initial fiery rhetoric, subsequent meetings with Kim, and ongoing discussions about the cost of maintaining U.S. troops in South Korea. Japan and China also made statements regarding North Korea’s missile activities, emphasizing the regional implications of the situation.
