North Korea has once again raised tensions on the Korean Peninsula by firing a barrage of suspected ballistic missiles towards its eastern sea, according to South Korea's military. This comes just days after a failed attempt by North Korea to launch a military reconnaissance satellite, which drew strong condemnation from its rivals.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported detecting around 10 projectiles that appeared to be short-range ballistic missiles being fired from an area near Pyongyang. The suspected missiles flew approximately 350 kilometers before landing in waters off North Korea's eastern coast. Japan issued a maritime safety advisory and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida strongly condemned the launches, stating that they were in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions against North Korea.
These latest missile launches are part of a series of weapons tests conducted by North Korea this year, including the testing of various cruise missiles, artillery systems, and a solid-fuel intermediate range missile with hypersonic warhead capabilities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized the importance of developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities to monitor U.S. and South Korean military activities and enhance the threat of its nuclear-capable missiles.
The failed satellite launch on Monday drew international condemnation, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling it a violation of Security Council resolutions. North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong responded by stating that they will continue to pursue space reconnaissance capabilities despite opposition from hostile forces.
The cycle of tit-for-tat escalations between North and South Korea, as well as their allies, continues to increase tensions in the region. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further provocations and responses from both sides.