Seoul/North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) this Wednesday, in the first test since the inauguration of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, one week after the visit of US President Donald Trump to South Korea.
“The Army detected today around 08:10 local time the launch of several short-range ballistic missiles from the Jungwha area in North Hwanghae Province,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement.
He also said they were launched northeastward, apparently toward the Sea of Japan, known as the East Sea in both Koreas, adding that South Korean and U.S. authorities are conducting an analysis of the exact specifications.
Today’s launch comes a week before Trump’s planned visit to South Korea, within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum events.
Several reports indicate that the US president would visit the South Korean city of Gyeongju on Wednesday of next week, with a potential overnight stay.
Several reports indicate that the US president would visit the South Korean city of Gyeongju on Wednesday of next week, with a potential overnight stay.
In principle, the US president will hold a summit with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, amid the recent strengthening of ties between Beijing and Pyongyang, following the presence of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, at an important military parade in China in early September.
It is also the first North Korean missile test since the inauguration of the South Korean leader in early June.
Inter-Korean communication channels remain cut off since 2022, while Pyongyang has repeatedly rejected recent calls from the Lee Administration to reopen dialogue.
The last launch of similar characteristics by Pyongyang took place in May, the month in which it launched a short-range ballistic missile on the 8th and several cruise missiles on the 22nd, in both cases also into the waters of the Sea of Japan.
