OMM Newsroom
North Korea fired nearly 10 ballistic missiles toward the sea from its east coast on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, AnewZ reported.
The missiles, which were short-range, were launched from near Wonsan on North Korea’s east coast at around 12:30 p.m. local time and flew about 250 kilometers, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
South Korea’s military said it had stepped up surveillance and maintained combat readiness in case of further launches. It is also exchanging information with the United States and Japan.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said an object that may have been a ballistic missile was launched and fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, Yonhap reported. Japan’s Coast Guard had also said earlier that the object could have been a ballistic missile and had already fallen into the sea.
The Japanese prime minister’s office posted instructions on the X platform in response to the suspected launch. It called for maximum efforts to gather and analyze information and for the public to be informed promptly.
South Korea’s presidential National Security Office held an emergency meeting to assess the security implications. In a statement, the Presidential Administration called on North Korea to stop launching ballistic missiles, describing the actions as a “serious violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.
Tensions at the border and propaganda loudspeakers
The missile launches came amid a sharp rise in tensions along the inter-Korean border. On Sept. 21, two landmines exploded in the Demilitarized Zone, injuring three South Korean soldiers.
Seoul said the mines had been laid by North Korean forces, called the incident a violation of the armistice and demanded an apology. Pyongyang denied responsibility and accused Seoul of fabricating the incident.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said last week that Pyongyang would have loudspeakers broadcasting anti-South Korean propaganda along the border ready for use within days. She had earlier said broadcasts would be carried out along the entire border by the end of October. Analysts in Seoul, however, questioned whether the equipment would be activated.
Artillery positions near the border
North Korea’s military has also deployed artillery batteries visible from across the border. South Korea’s military said on Thursday it believed they were mainly intended to be displayed.
JCS spokesman Chan Do Yon said at a briefing: “We assess that North Korea has several intentions, but it is important to understand that displaying old weapons systems is intended as a show.”
Defense Ministry spokesman Jeon Bin Na said positioning artillery where it could easily be seen was “not very logical tactically or militarily.”
North Korean soldiers have also been observed building fences inside the Demilitarized Zone. Chan said North Korean activity continued near the Military Demarcation Line, which divides the zone in two. South Korean forces issue warnings and fire warning shots when the border is violated.
South Korea’s Ministry of Defense said Seoul was awaiting a response to two proposals for military talks and had urged North Korea to return to dialogue.
North Korea last launched ballistic missiles on Oct. 12. Pyongyang has conducted more than 10 missile tests this year.
