North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday, raising tensions just days before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. The missile tests were seen as a provocative act, signalling the regime’s continued defiance.
According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the missiles were fired around 9:30 a.m. from the Ganggye area in North Korea’s Jagang Province. The missiles flew approximately 250 kilometres before landing in the sea.
The JCS did not provide specific details on how many missiles were launched during this test.
This missile test is North Korea’s second provocation of the year, following an earlier launch on January 6, when it fired a missile it claimed was a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile.
While the North Korean regime often carries out these tests to display military strength, short-range missiles like these are typically seen as a threat to South Korea due to their limited range.
Just a few months ago, on November 5, North Korea also fired multiple short-range missiles, this time ahead of the U.S. presidential election. This repeated pattern of launching missiles in the lead-up to significant U.S. political events has raised concerns about North Korea's intentions.
In a year-end meeting, North Korea had declared its intention to adopt a "toughest" strategy towards the United States.
The regime expressed its disapproval of growing military cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, calling it a "military bloc for aggression." These statements, combined with missile launches, have heightened fears of further escalations in the region.
The latest missile launches have been condemned as a "blatant" provocation by South Korea, with the JCS expressing deep concerns over the potential threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The military also reaffirmed its readiness to respond to any additional provocations from North Korea.
"In response to these launches, our military has enhanced its monitoring and vigilance," the JCS stated. "We are working closely with our allies, the U.S. and Japan, to share information and ensure our readiness against any further North Korean missile activity."
The South Korean military is currently monitoring the situation closely, as it has detected transporter erector launchers at the missile launch site, suggesting the possibility of further tests.
These signs have led to heightened concerns that North Korea may be preparing for additional missile launches in the near future.
In response to the launches, South Korea’s Acting President, Choi Sang-mok, condemned North Korea’s actions as a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
He reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to a strong response, which will be backed by the close alliance between South Korea and the United States. Choi also pledged to continue to hold a firm stance against any future provocations.
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