North Korea has reportedly launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, according to South Korea’s military. This action occurred just a day after the North Korean regime dismissed former President Donald Trump’s directive to reduce US military drills with South Korea, which was perceived as an attempt to rekindle diplomatic relations.
Details of the Missile Launches
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the missiles were fired from the vicinity of Pyongyang around 5 PM local time (08:00 GMT) on Thursday, targeting the eastern waters of North Korea. In response to the launches, South Korea has enhanced its surveillance measures and is actively sharing information with both the United States and Japan.
Emergency Response from South Korea
In light of the missile tests, South Korea’s presidential national security council convened an emergency meeting. Following the discussions, they issued a statement urging North Korea to cease its ballistic missile launches, which are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
Context of the Military Exercises
On Wednesday, the South Korean and US military forces announced a reduction in their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. This decision was made shortly before the drills commenced on Monday, following Trump’s order to the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the scale of the exercises. Trump justified this move by referencing his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korea’s lack of support regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran.
North Korea’s Reaction
Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un, publicly dismissed Trump’s overture, stating it was not worthy of a response. She remarked, “The provocative, aggressive nature of the drills won’t change even though their duration and size were reduced,” indicating that North Korea views the US’s military presence as a continued threat.
Despite her criticism, Kim Yo-jong refrained from the usual fiery rhetoric typically associated with North Korean responses. She acknowledged that personal relations between her brother and Trump remain “still excellent,” which may suggest a strategic wait for more significant concessions from the US before engaging in further talks.
Trump’s Comments on Future Meetings
When questioned about the possibility of meeting with Kim Jong-un this year, Trump confirmed, “Yeah, I will be.” However, he did not elaborate on whether he was in correspondence with Kim, merely stating that he maintained a good rapport with him.
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