On Wednesday morning, North Korea carried out a military provocation by launching several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea. This action followed an attempted launch of an unidentified projectile the previous day, marking two consecutive days of provocations. The SRBMs reportedly flew approximately 240 km (about 149 miles).
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced that its military detected several short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area of North Korea around 8:50 AM. They are currently analyzing the precise specifications of the missiles, which violate United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions against North Korea.
The JCS added that U.S. and South Korean intelligence authorities are closely tracking the launch trends and sharing relevant information. They emphasized that their forces are enhancing surveillance and readiness in preparation for any additional launches.
This marks North Korea’s first ballistic missile launch into the East Sea since March 14, when they fired over ten ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang Sunan area, which flew about 350 km (about 218 miles).
This incident is North Korea’s fourth ballistic missile provocation this year. They launched missiles into the East Sea on January 4, coinciding with President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to China for a summit, and again on January 27, when Elbridge Colby, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, arrived in Japan after completing his schedule in South Korea.
The ballistic missile or suspected multiple rocket launcher fired by North Korea on Tuesday morning reportedly malfunctioned shortly after launch and was lost.
These consecutive military provocations appear to be a response to President Lee’s expression of regret over a civilian drone incursion into North Korea on Monday, and Kim Jong Un’s description of it as a bold and candid measure. This seems to be an attempt to maintain tensions between the two adversarial nations.
In a late-night statement the previous day, First Deputy Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui declared that the identity of South Korea as our most hostile adversary cannot change based on what officials say or do. He dismissed any claims from South Korea regarding unusually friendly responses to their government’s swift reactions as the wishful thinking of foolish people.
The JCS is currently analyzing the detailed specifications of the projectiles launched on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some experts speculate that North Korea may have tested a newly unveiled high-performance solid-fuel engine or attempted to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) equipped with this engine, as well as a multiple rocket launcher believed to be aimed at South Korea.