- North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, according to South Korea's military, a day after dismissing a U.S. decision to scale back military drills.
- The launches occurred from North Korea's capital region around 5 p.m. local time, with the missiles flying about 300 kilometers (185 miles) each toward North Korea's eastern waters.
- South Korea's national security council held an emergency meeting to discuss the launches and urged North Korea to halt ballistic missile launches that are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions.
- Kim Yo Jong dismissed Trump's overture on Wednesday, stating that the provocative nature of the drills won't change despite their reduction.
- U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to 'substantially reduce' the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises just before they began on Monday.
- South Korean and U.S. militaries confirmed on Wednesday that they were scaling back their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises by about half and canceling some field training exercises.
North Korea launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, as reported by South Korea's military. The launches occurred around 5 p.m. local time from the capital region, with missiles flying about 300 kilometers (185 miles) into eastern waters.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the military has enhanced its surveillance and is closely coordinating with the U.S. and Japan regarding the launches. In response, South Korea's presidential national security council convened an emergency meeting, urging North Korea to cease its ballistic missile activities, which violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.
This missile launch follows a day after Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's overture to reduce military drills. She stated, “The provocative, aggressive nature of the drills won’t change even though their duration and size were reduced.” Kim Yo Jong also emphasized that if the U.S. perceives its actions as a gesture of goodwill, they will not receive the desired response.
The U.S. had recently scaled back its military exercises with South Korea, including the Ulchi Freedom Shield, which was shortened by about half. Trump had ordered the Pentagon to reduce the exercises, citing a good relationship with Kim, but Kim Yo Jong refuted this claim, stating that personal relations between her brother and Trump remain “still excellent.” The Ulchi Freedom Shield is a key military exercise aimed at enhancing defensive capabilities against potential North Korean aggression, which North Korea views as rehearsals for invasion.
“The missiles flew about 300 kilometers each toward North Korea's eastern waters, prompting South Korea to bolster surveillance and coordinate with the U.S. and Japan. The launches follow Trump's order to 'substantially reduce' the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, which Kim Yo Jong said won't change their 'provocative, aggressive nature.'”
WCVB
