North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, South Korea said, in the latest show of force from Pyongyang as U.S. and South Korean forces conducted joint military exercises on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area at around 5 p.m. local time and traveled roughly 300 kilometers before falling into waters to the east. South Korea said it was closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the United States and Japan.
The launches came during the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which began on August 17. The drills were originally scheduled to last 11 days but were shortened to five days and some field training was reduced following an order from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Despite the reduction, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said Wednesday that Pyongyang remained opposed to the exercises, arguing that reducing their size or duration did not change what she described as their “provocative” and “aggressive” nature. She nevertheless described the relationship between Kim and Trump as “excellent,” leaving some room for renewed diplomacy.
Trump said Wednesday that he planned to meet Kim Jong Un later this year and claimed that North Korea possesses 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, however, told lawmakers Thursday that private research estimates put North Korea’s nuclear arsenal at between 80 and 120 warheads, while cautioning that the exact number cannot be independently confirmed by South Korea’s military.
South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang would be an important first step toward addressing North Korea’s nuclear program.
The latest missile launches underscore the difficult balance facing Washington and Seoul as they attempt to reduce military tensions while maintaining pressure on Pyongyang and exploring the possibility of renewed negotiations.
