North Korea (Rajeev Sharma): North Korea launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its eastern coastline on Thursday, prompting South Korea to heighten military surveillance and maintain readiness for possible further launches, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The missiles were fired at around 12:30 p.m. local time (0330 GMT) from the vicinity of Wonsan, a coastal area in eastern North Korea, the JCS said in a statement.
South Korea’s military said it was closely monitoring the situation and sharing intelligence with the United States and Japan as it assessed the launches. Officials remained alert to the possibility of additional missile activity.
Japan Monitors Suspected Missile Launch
Japan also reported the launch of a projectile believed to be a ballistic missile. According to Japan’s Defense Ministry, as cited by Yonhap News Agency, the object fell into the sea outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Japan’s Coast Guard had earlier issued a similar assessment, saying the projectile was suspected to be a ballistic missile and had already landed in the water.
The reported launches add to regional security concerns surrounding North Korea’s weapons development programme and its continued testing of ballistic missile systems.
Missile Tests Continue Amid Border Tensions
North Korea’s previous reported ballistic missile launch took place on October 12. The latest activity comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions along the Korean Peninsula, following a mine explosion near the inter-Korean border that injured South Korean soldiers the previous month.
Pyongyang has carried out missile tests on more than 10 occasions this year, according to the reported figures, underscoring the frequency of its weapons-related activities.
South Korean authorities have continued to monitor North Korea’s military movements in coordination with Washington and Tokyo. The three countries regularly exchange information on missile launches as part of their efforts to assess potential security threats in the region.
Further details about the latest launches, including their flight paths and precise performance characteristics, were not provided in the initial statements.
The incident highlights persistent tensions in Northeast Asia, where North Korea’s missile activities remain a major concern for neighbouring countries and their security partners.
