North Korea fired about a dozen short-range ballistic missiles from its east coast on Thursday, South Korea’s defence ministry said. The launch came less than a week after Seoul proposed talks to address a growing border dispute.
Military monitoring after the Wonsan launches
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military had detected the missiles, which were fired from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. It said the military had stepped up surveillance in case of further launches.
Japan’s Coast Guard separately said an object that appeared to be a ballistic missile from North Korea seemed to have already fallen, and it urged ships to stay alert. North Korea has recently tested several weapons, including a precision-guided torpedo system and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile, both described as employing AI technology.
Landmine blast fuels tensions along the border
Thursday’s launches come amid rising tension over a landmine explosion on the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas, which wounded three South Korean soldiers. A joint Seoul-UN investigation concluded earlier this month that North Korea had planted the landmines more than a year ago.
Seoul accused Pyongyang of “a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement” and called on the North to return to dialogue. The two countries remain technically at war, as the 1953 conflict ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
Pyongyang mocks talks offer as Trump signals caution
Pyongyang has ridiculed the overture from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North’s leader, called it “the climax of the farce.” Seoul’s proposal for military talks to confirm the precise location of the border and restore communication channels has drawn no response so far.
The escalation also comes as recent overtures by US President Donald Trump toward North Korea have raised concern in Seoul, an ally of Washington, that it could be sidelined in any potential nuclear talks. In his latest comments, Trump seemingly played down the chances of a summit while insisting his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is “very good.” In October, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles a day after Trump suggested the two might meet this year.
