North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a year of frequent launches amid growing tensions over a border dispute.
The missiles were launched at around 12:30 p.m. local time from an area near Wonsan on North Korea's eastern coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The South Korean military said it was strengthening surveillance and maintaining readiness for additional launches while closely sharing information with the United States and Japan. Japan's Defense Ministry said the missiles had fallen outside the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
The launch follows more than 10 missile tests by North Korea this year, most recently several short-range ballistic missiles on October 12. It also comes amid rising tensions over a border dispute: three South Korean soldiers were wounded on September 21 when landmines exploded in the Demilitarized Zone, and a joint investigation by South Korea and the United Nations concluded earlier this month that North Korea had planted the mines south of the military demarcation line more than a year ago. Pyongyang has denied responsibility and warned of retaliation if provoked. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected South Korean demands for an apology, calling them "despicable," and refused an offer of medical equipment.
Last week, North Korea announced plans to resume propaganda broadcasts along the border and deploy new weapons systems in the area. South Korea subsequently proposed talks to clarify the border and prevent accidental military clashes; Pyongyang has yet to respond.
The rising tensions come as US President Donald Trump's recent overtures to Pyongyang have raised concerns that South Korea could be sidelined in potential nuclear negotiations. Trump and Kim met at the demarcation line in 2019 during Trump's first term. Seoul is a key Washington ally, but Trump's approach has fueled uncertainty over South Korea's role in any future talks. North Korea's previous missile launch on October 12 came a day after Trump suggested he might meet Kim this year.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The missile launches are the latest escalation in a border dispute that has already wounded South Korean soldiers, raising the risk of accidental clashes along the Demilitarized Zone.
- South Korea's role in nuclear diplomacy is in question: US President Donald Trump's overtures to Pyongyang have fueled concern that Seoul could be sidelined in any future talks.
- The launches test regional coordination, with South Korea sharing information with the US and Japan and maintaining readiness for further launches.
Background
North and South Korea remain technically at war, separated by the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone. The two sides have a long history of border incidents, propaganda broadcasts and periodic missile tests. North Korea has conducted more than 10 missile tests this year, and its recent threats to resume broadcasts and deploy weapons along the border drew a South Korean offer of talks.
Key Perspectives
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff: says the missiles were fired from near Wonsan and the military is strengthening surveillance and maintaining readiness while sharing information with the US and Japan.
North Korea: denies responsibility for the landmines, has warned of retaliation if provoked, and has not responded to Seoul's proposal for border talks.
Kim Yo Jong: condemned South Korean demands for an apology as "despicable" and rejected Seoul's offer of medical equipment.
Japan's Defense Ministry: said the missiles had fallen outside the country's Exclusive Economic Zone.
US President Donald Trump: has made overtures to Pyongyang, including suggesting a meeting with Kim Jong Un, fueling uncertainty over South Korea's role in nuclear negotiations.
What to Watch
- Whether Pyongyang responds to South Korea's proposal for talks to clarify the border and prevent accidental military clashes.
- Whether North Korea follows through on plans to resume propaganda broadcasts and deploy new weapons systems along the border.
- Whether Trump's outreach to Kim produces a meeting and what role, if any, Seoul plays in such talks.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedNorth Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea’s military said.DW English: “North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea 's military said.”
- SupportedThe launch came amid growing tensions between North and South Korea over a border dispute.DW English: “Thursday's launch comes amid growing tensions between the two Koreas over a border dispute that has further strained relations between Seoul and Pyongyang.”
- SupportedTrump’s recent overtures to Pyongyang raised concerns that South Korea could be sidelined in potential nuclear negotiations.DW English: “The rising tensions come as US President Donald Trump 's recent overtures to Pyongyang have raised concerns that South Korea could be sidelined in potential nuclear negotiations.”
- SupportedThe missiles were launched around 12:30 p.m. local time from near Wonsan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.DW English: “The missiles were launched at around 12:30 p.m. local time (0330 GMT) from an area near Wonsan on North Korea's eastern coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.”
- SupportedNorth Korea conducted more than 10 missile tests this year, with several short-range ballistic missiles launched most recently on October 12.DW English: “Pyongyang has conducted missile tests on more than 10 occasions this year, most recently launching several short-range ballistic missiles on October 12 .”
- SupportedThree South Korean soldiers were wounded on September 21 when landmines exploded in the Demilitarized Zone.DW English: “Three South Korean soldiers were wounded on September 21 when landmines exploded in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates the two countries.”
- SupportedA joint South Korean-UN investigation concluded that North Korea had planted the mines south of the military demarcation line more than a year earlier.DW English: “A joint investigation by South Korea and the United Nations concluded earlier this month that North Korea had planted the landmines south of the military demarcation line more than a year ago.”
- SupportedPyongyang denied responsibility for the landmines and warned of retaliation if provoked.DW English: “Pyongyang has denied responsibility and warned of retaliation if provoked.”
- SupportedKim Yo Jong called South Korean demands for an apology “despicable” and rejected Seoul’s offer of medical equipment.DW English: “Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un , condemned South Korean demands for an apology as "despicable." She also rejected Seoul's offer of medical equipment.”
- SupportedNorth Korea announced plans to resume propaganda broadcasts along the border and deploy new weapons systems there.DW English: “Last week, North Korea announced plans to resume propaganda broadcasts along the border and deploy new weapons systems in the area.”
- SupportedSouth Korea proposed talks to clarify the border and prevent accidental military clashes, and Pyongyang had not responded.DW English: “South Korea subsequently proposed talks to clarify the border and prevent accidental military clashes. Pyongyang has yet to respond.”
- SupportedTrump and Kim met at the demarcation line in 2019 during Trump’s first term.DW English: “US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met at the demarcation line between North and South Korea during Trump's first term in 2019”