South Korea’s presidential office has strongly criticized North Korea’s firing of over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday and has instructed the military to stay prepared during the ongoing joint drills with the United States. The presidential office held an urgent security meeting with officials from the Defence Ministry and military authorities after North Korea launched the missiles from the Pyongyang area towards the east of the Korean Peninsula, according to a statement issued.
Describing the ballistic missile launch as a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions, the statement called on North Korea to immediately cease such actions. South Korea’s response posture was reviewed, security implications of the missile launches were assessed, and necessary measures were discussed, as per the office.
The missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea, reported South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. This missile barrage followed the announcement by the South Korean and U.S. militaries that they were reducing their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, scheduled to end by the close of Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump had directed the Pentagon to significantly scale back the exercise just before it commenced on Monday, citing a positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s non-support for U.S. actions in Iran. When asked if he would meet Kim this year, Trump confirmed, adding that North Korea possesses 57 potent nuclear weapons, marking the first time he mentioned this figure. South Korean officials estimate the number to be between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister and a spokesperson for the regime, rejected Trump’s gesture on Wednesday, emphasizing that the nature of the drills remains provocative and aggressive despite their reduced duration and size. She further mentioned other military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea earlier in the year and South Korea’s efforts to introduce nuclear-powered submarines.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, suggested that the missile launch aimed to emphasize the seriousness of Kim Yo Jong’s warning from the previous day. He speculated that the launch served various purposes, including expressing opposition to the South Korea-U.S. military exercises, dissatisfaction with recent discussions on North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, and cautioning external powers against speculating about Pyongyang’s security matters.
Trump’s previous reactions to North Korean missile tests in 2017 were replaced by subsequent meetings with Kim, despite objections from advisors like John Bolton. Trump has consistently questioned the cost of maintaining about 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea while affirming the nation’s importance as an ally. The allies have a cost-sharing agreement in place for 2026 to 2030, with Seoul contributing approximately 1.52 trillion won ($1.1 billion US) this year for American troops’ maintenance. Despite this, Trump maintains that South Korea’s contribution is inadequate.
Japan’s government and coast guard also reported North Korea firing a ballistic missile towards the sea on Thursday. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to Seoul, advised South Korea to steer clear of taking sides between Beijing and Washington, advocating for a peaceful coexistence between South Korea and North Korea. China and North Korea have demonstrated strengthening ties, with Kim and Xi Jinping meeting twice in the past year.