South Korea’s presidential office has strongly criticized North Korea’s firing of over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday. In response, the South Korean military has been instructed to remain fully prepared while joint exercises with the United States are ongoing.
An emergency security meeting was held by the presidential office, with representatives from the Defence Ministry and military authorities present, following the missile launches from the Pyongyang region towards the eastern sea of the Korean Peninsula. The office stated that the ballistic missile launch is a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions, urging North Korea to cease such actions promptly.
The South Korean officials assessed the security implications of the missile launches, reviewed the country’s response readiness, and discussed necessary measures in light of the situation. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea.
The missile launches occurred shortly after South Korea and the U.S. announced a reduction in their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which are set to conclude by the end of Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to significantly scale back the exercises, citing a positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s stance on the U.S. conflict with Iran.
Kim Yo Jong, the spokesperson for the North Korean regime and Kim Jong Un’s sister, dismissed Trump’s recent comments and emphasized that reducing the duration and size of military drills does not change their provocative nature. She also highlighted other military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea earlier in the year, as well as South Korea’s efforts to introduce nuclear-powered submarines.
Analysts suggest that the missile launch was intended to emphasize Kim Yo Jong’s previous warnings and convey opposition to the South Korea-U.S. military exercises. It also serves as a signal of discontent over discussions regarding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and a warning against speculations about Pyongyang’s security matters.
Trump’s interactions with North Korea have evolved from initial tensions to diplomatic meetings with Kim Jong Un, though without significant breakthroughs. Trump has questioned the cost of maintaining U.S. troops in South Korea, despite the existing cost-sharing agreement between the allies. The agreement covers contributions from Seoul toward the upkeep of American troops, with Trump insisting that South Korea should contribute more.
Japan’s government and coast guard confirmed North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile towards the sea, with the projectile reportedly falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged South Korea to maintain a neutral stance between Beijing and Washington, advocating for a peaceful coexistence between South Korea and North Korea.
China and North Korea have shown signs of strengthening their relationship, with recent meetings between Kim and Xi Jinping.