North Korea fires short-range missiles after US-South Korea-Japan military drill
The missile launches were North Korea’s first in roughly three weeks and came as the country continued demonstrating its military capabilities.
North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Saturday (12 September), according to neighboring countries. The launches occurred just one day after the United States, South Korea and Japan completed a joint military exercise that Pyongyang considers a provocation.
The missile launches were North Korea's first in roughly three weeks and came as the country continued demonstrating its military capabilities. The launches followed North Korea's rejection of US President Donald Trump's decision to reduce the scale of a major military exercise with South Korea as a gesture aimed at improving relations.
South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said it detected several missiles being fired from the Wonsan area on North Korea's eastern coast. Each missile traveled approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) toward the waters off North Korea's eastern coast. South Korea said it had strengthened its monitoring activities and was coordinating closely with the United States and Japan to assess the launches.
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South Korea's presidential National Security Council called on Pyongyang to stop conducting ballistic missile tests, saying such launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The US pacific command said the missiles did not pose an immediate danger to US territory or American allies. It reaffirmed Washington's commitment to protecting the United States and its partners in the region.
Three-nation military exercise ends
The United States, South Korea and Japan concluded their five-day Freedom Edge military exercise on Friday (11 September) as planned.
According to the US pacific command, forces from the three countries trained together in air, maritime and cyber operations to improve their ability to work together and strengthen regional security.
The exercise included naval operations, aerial refueling, cyber cooperation and medical-response training. South Korea's military described the drills as defensive and said their purpose was to strengthen the three countries' ability to respond jointly to potential nuclear threats from North Korea.
Shortly after the exercise began Monday (7 September), North Korean Defense Minister Kim Song Gi condemned it as a provocative act. He warned that Pyongyang would take strong countermeasures in response.
Kim Jong Un Calls for Stronger Nuclear Deterrent
On Sunday (6 September), North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the development of a more dependable nuclear deterrent during a ceremony marking the commissioning of the country's second naval destroyer.
North Korea has claimed that both of its destroyers are capable of carrying nuclear-capable missiles. The second vessel suffered damage during an unsuccessful launch attempt last year but was put back into service following repairs.
Kim has continued expanding North Korea's nuclear weapons program since diplomatic negotiations with Donald Trump broke down in 2019.
Last month, Trump instructed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise with South Korea. He pointed to his positive relationship with Kim, while North Korea has long described the exercise as preparation for an invasion.
However, Kim Jong Un's sister and senior government official, Kim Yo Jong, dismissed Trump's decision. She argued that simply shortening the exercise would not remove what she described as its aggressive and provocative character.
North Korea's military subsequently fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, apparently carrying out its earlier warning that it would respond to the US-South Korean military exercise.
North Korea Seeks Greater Leverage
Experts believe Kim Jong Un may now feel more confident because of the progress of North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its stronger relationships with Russia and China. They say this could encourage him to seek greater concessions from Washington if diplomatic negotiations resume.
Kim said earlier this year that North Korea could consider returning to negotiations with the United States if Washington abandons what he describes as a hostile policy toward Pyongyang and recognizes North Korea's claimed status as a nuclear-armed state.
