South Korea’s presidential office has criticized North Korea’s firing of more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday and directed its military to stay fully prepared during ongoing 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 in attendance after North Korea launched the missiles from the Pyongyang area towards the sea east of the Korean Peninsula. Describing the missile launch as a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions, the presidential office urged North Korea to immediately cease such actions. South Korea’s response posture was reviewed by officials, who also assessed the security implications of the missile launches and discussed necessary measures, according to the office.
The missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea, as reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The missile launch occurred a day after South Korea and the U.S. announced a reduction in their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which were scheduled to conclude by the end of Friday. President Donald Trump had instructed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the exercise just before it commenced on Monday, citing a positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s non-support in the U.S.’s actions in Iran. Trump confirmed to reporters on Wednesday that he plans to meet with Kim this year and disclosed that North Korea possesses 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons, marking the first time he has mentioned that number. South Korean officials estimate the number of North Korean nuclear warheads to be between 80 and 120.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister and a spokesperson for the regime in recent years, rebuffed Trump’s gestures on Wednesday, stating that the reduced military drills did not alter their provocative nature. She emphasized that the drills’ nature remained aggressive and criticized other military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea, along with South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines. While acknowledging the good personal relations between her brother and Trump, Kim Yo Jong denied Trump’s assertion that Kim had responded to his request for a conversation.
An expert at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, Yang Moo-jin, suggested that the missile launch was intended to reinforce Kim Yo Jong’s previous warnings. He speculated that the launch served multiple purposes, such as signaling opposition to the South Korea-U.S. military exercises, expressing displeasure over discussions about North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and cautioning external powers against speculating about Pyongyang’s security affairs. Yang emphasized that decisions regarding North Korea’s security are solely the responsibility of North Korea. Trump’s handling of North Korean missile tests during his first year in office was noted, highlighting his subsequent meetings with Kim without significant diplomatic achievements.
Concerns over the cost of maintaining U.S. troops in South Korea have been raised by Trump, despite a cost-sharing agreement between the allies extending from 2026 to 2030. Seoul is expected to contribute about 1.52 trillion won ($1.1 billion US) this year for the upkeep of American troops. However, Trump continues to argue that South Korea’s contributions are inadequate, questioning the cost of maintaining U.S. troops in the region. Japan’s government and coast guard also reported that North Korea had fired a ballistic missile towards the sea on Thursday, with the missile appearing to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to Seoul, urged South Korea not to take sides between Beijing and Washington and called for the U.S. to abandon its “hostile” policy towards North Korea. Wang expressed China’s support for peaceful coexistence between South Korea and North Korea, highlighting recent strengthening of ties between China and North Korea, including high-level meetings between Kim and Xi Jinping.