North Korea launches short-range missiles as Trump prepares for reentry into the political arena
North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from its east coast on Tuesday, according to South Korea's military. This move marks Pyongyang's latest demonstration of military strength, coming just days before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that missiles launched from Kanggye, located in Jagang Province close to the Chinese border, traversed approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles). The launch occurred at around 9:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT).
The Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a stern condemnation of the recent launch, describing it as a blatant provocation that poses a significant threat to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. They cautioned North Korea against any “misjudgment” of the situation and pledged a decisive and overwhelming response to any further provocations.
Seoul’s presidential office announced that its national security council convened to assess the current situation, affirming their commitment to maintaining a robust and vigilant stance.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed awareness of the missile test and announced that Tokyo is employing all possible measures to address the situation. This involves close collaboration with the United States and South Korea, including the real-time exchange of missile alert information.
The recent launch occurred approximately a week following North Korea’s announcement of testing a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile. This event marked the country’s first missile test since November 5.
A recent missile launch took place concurrently with the visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya to Seoul.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his counterpart, Iwaya, on Monday denounced North Korea’s ongoing nuclear and missile programs. The officials committed to strengthening security cooperation after discussions held in Seoul.
