North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the Sinpo area of South Hamgyong Province on Wednesday morning, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The launch, coming 11 days after the previous one on the 8th, marks the seventh missile provocation by the North this year.
"The military detected several short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Sinpo area of North Korea into the East Sea at around 6:10 a.m.," the JCS said. "Our military is closely monitoring various movements by North Korea under a firm South Korea-US combined defense posture and maintains the capability and posture to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation."
The detected missiles flew approximately 140 kilometers. South Korean and US authorities are analyzing the specifications and range of the North's projectiles.
Given that the launch took place at Sinpo, home to a submarine base, there is speculation that the missile could be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The Kim Kun-ok Hero, which North Korea unveiled in September 2023 as its first tactical nuclear attack submarine, has been spotted at Sinpo.
If the missile is confirmed to be an SLBM, it would be the North's first SLBM launch in about four years since May 7, 2022. However, given that the SLBM launched at that time flew 600 kilometers, the much shorter range of this launch raises the possibility that it could be a new model.
Some observers see the launch as an extension of the North's recent focus on strengthening its defense capabilities, including test launches of cluster munitions.
Some analysts suggest the show of force is aimed at checking the possibility that Korean Peninsula issues could be placed on the agenda at the US-China summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-next month.
The Ministry of National Defense said in a statement, "North Korea's ballistic missile launch is a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The North must immediately cease its successive missile provocations that are raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula and actively participate in our government's efforts to establish peace."
Immediately after the North's missile launch, the National Security Office also convened an emergency security situation review meeting chaired by Kim Hyun-jong, the first deputy director for national security, with relevant ministries including the Ministry of National Defense in attendance.
