South Korea’s presidential office has strongly criticized North Korea for launching more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday. In response, the office has directed the military to stay fully prepared during joint exercises with the United States. An emergency security meeting was called by the presidential office, with officials from the Defence Ministry and military authorities present. The missiles were fired from the Pyongyang area towards the east of the Korean Peninsula, prompting the statement that the missile launch violates UN Security Council resolutions. South Korea has urged North Korea to immediately cease such actions.
The South Korean officials reviewed the country’s response readiness, evaluated the security implications of the missile launches, and discussed necessary measures. The missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea, as reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The missile launch occurred following the announcement of scaling back the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises by South Korea and the U.S., set to conclude by the end of Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump had instructed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the exercise just before it commenced on Monday. This decision was influenced by Trump’s positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s non-support in the U.S.’s actions in Iran.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, dismissed Trump’s gestures, emphasizing that the reduced military exercises still maintain their aggressive nature. She expressed concerns over the U.S. and South Korea’s military drills earlier in the year and South Korea’s plans to introduce nuclear-powered submarines. Kim Yo Jong stated that while the personal relations between her brother and Trump remain strong, there has been no response from Kim to Trump’s request for a conversation.
Analysts suggest that the missile launch was intended to underscore previous warnings and signal opposition to the South Korea-U.S. military exercises. It also aimed to express displeasure towards discussions about North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and caution other countries against speculating on Pyongyang’s security matters.
Trump’s history with North Korea includes initial threats of “fire and fury” in 2017 due to missile tests. Despite subsequent meetings with Kim, no significant diplomatic breakthrough has been achieved. Trump has repeatedly questioned the cost of maintaining U.S. troops in South Korea, despite an existing cost-sharing agreement. Japan also reported North Korea’s missile launch towards the sea, which fell outside its exclusive economic zone.
During his visit to Seoul, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi advised South Korea to maintain neutrality between the U.S. and China and called for a peaceful coexistence between South Korea and North Korea. Recent meetings between Kim and Xi Jinping indicate strengthened ties between China and North Korea.