North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s military, in a provocative display of force days before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office.
The missiles were fired at around 9:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) from Kanggye, near the country’s border with China, and traveled approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles), Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported.
Strong Condemnation from South Korea
South Korea’s JCS denounced the missile launches as a “clear provocation” threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula. The JCS warned North Korea against misjudging the situation and pledged an “overwhelming response” to further provocations.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok also condemned the act, labeling it a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Seoul’s presidential office convened its National Security Council to review the situation, emphasizing an “airtight” defense posture.
International Reactions
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed awareness of the missile tests and stressed close cooperation with the U.S. and South Korea, including real-time missile warning data sharing.
The incident follows a recent visit to Seoul by Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who joined South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in condemning North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments. The two officials pledged to strengthen security ties.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a recent trip to Seoul, also emphasized trilateral cooperation with Japan and South Korea to address Pyongyang’s growing military threats.
Context of the Launch
Tuesday’s missile test occurred a week after North Korea claimed to have tested a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile. It also coincided with Trump’s imminent inauguration, drawing speculation that Pyongyang aims to assert its military strength and capture Washington’s attention.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service briefed lawmakers that the recent weapons tests were partly a demonstration of Pyongyang’s deterrence capabilities and a response to U.S. policies. North Korea had vowed “the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction” during a key policy meeting late last year.
