North Korea fires ten missiles toward the sea

North Korea fired approximately ten short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Thursday, South Korean military officials reported. The projectiles launched from Wonsan, a coastal town on the eastern seaboard, and traveled roughly 250 kilometers, or about 155 miles. Japan’s Defense Ministry also detected a suspected ballistic missile launch.

Tensions between the two nations have escalated following a series of events at their shared border. Last month, land mine blasts injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul accused the North of placing the mines south of the military demarcation line and requested an apology. Pyongyang rejected responsibility for the explosions and warned of retaliation if provoked further.

The diplomatic climate shifted again last week when North Korea announced it would resume front-line propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts. It also placed new weapons systems on alert near the border. This move was a protest against what North Korea described as repeated warning shots fired by South Korean troops. In response, Seoul proposed talks to clarify the border location to prevent accidental clashes, but the North has not yet replied to that offer.

Earlier this week, journalists from the Associated Press visited a South Korean border town. They observed North Korean artillery guns positioned on the opposite side of the border that were not visible in previous years. This observation aligns with a longer trend of North Korea adding mines, barbed-wire fences, and other defense structures along the frontier. This construction follows a policy by leader Kim Jong Un to sever ties with the South.

The missile barrage also followed a high-profile diplomatic trip. On Saturday, Kim traveled to the Chinese border city of Dandong. He crossed a newly inaugurated bridge to visit a memorial marking China’s support during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was his sixth visit to China since taking power in late 2011. At the site, Kim stated that North Korea would firmly carry forward the invincible friendship with China. He also met with Wang Huning, a top Chinese Communist Party official, to reaffirm their resolve to develop bilateral cooperation.

This trip marked a shift in Kim’s recent foreign policy. For years, he prioritized ties with Russia by sending troops and ammunition to support its war against Ukraine. Now, he is moving to bolster relationships with China, which remains North Korea’s main economic ally. The latest missile tests, which also included submarine-launched cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons in recent weeks, appear designed to pressure the United States. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to restore diplomacy with Kim.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military remains ready to repel any provocations under its alliance with the United States. The launches add to a series of weapons tests conducted by North Korea in recent weeks.