Missile Tests: North Korea Launches Ten Short-Range Weapons

Relations between North and South Korea have grown more strained in recent weeks, with both sides increasing military activities along their shared border. Against this backdrop, North Korea conducted a new round of missile testing on Thursday.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea launched approximately ten short-range ballistic missiles from Wonsan, a coastal town on the North’s eastern shore. The agency stated that each missile traveled roughly 250 kilometers, or 155 miles, before landing in the eastern waters. Japan’s Defense Ministry also confirmed the detection of a suspected ballistic missile launch by the North.

The military launch occurred days after North Korea threatened to resume front-line propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts. Pyongyang also announced it would deploy new weapons systems along the border to protest what it described as repeated warning shots fired by South Korean troops. South Korea proposed talks to clarify the border line to prevent accidental clashes, but North Korea has not yet responded to that offer.

Tensions escalated sharply last month when land mines exploded along the border, injuring three South Korean soldiers. Seoul accused Pyongyang of planting the mines south of the military demarcation line and demanded an apology. North Korea denied responsibility for the blasts and warned of retaliation if the South provoked it further. Associated Press journalists visiting a South Korean border town earlier this week noted that North Korean artillery guns were visible on the other side, a sight they said was previously hidden.

The missile barrage also followed a diplomatic trip by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He visited the Chinese border city of Dandong via a newly inaugurated bridge on Saturday. During the visit, he paid respect at a memorial marking China’s support during the 1950-53 Korean War. Kim stated that North Korea will firmly carry forward the invincible friendship with China. He later met with top Chinese Communist Party official Wang Huning to reaffirm his resolve to develop bilateral cooperation.

This was Kim’s sixth visit to China since succeeding his father as leader in late 2011. The trip marks a shift in priorities, as Kim has recently moved to bolster ties with Beijing after years of focusing on Russia, including sending troops and ammunition to support the war in Ukraine. Experts suggest the recent series of weapons tests, which included submarine-launched cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles, is aimed at pressuring the United States. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to restore diplomacy with Kim, and analysts believe North Korea is seeking larger concessions in that potential negotiation.