North Korea launches multiple short-range missiles towards east coast, confirms South Korea

New Delhi: North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast on Thursday, marking its first missile activity in over two months, according to South Korea's military. The launch comes just days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to have his nuclear arsenal fully prepared for conflict with adversaries. Japan’s Coast Guard confirmed that a projectile, likely a ballistic missile, had already landed in the sea.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles travelled approximately 360 kilometers before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed officials to ensure the safety of ships and aircraft, although there were no immediate reports of damage.

The missile tests come at a time of escalating tensions between the two Koreas, with the launch distances indicating they were intended to target South Korea. This is North Korea's first public missile test since July 1, when it launched two ballistic missiles in response to a joint military exercise involving the U.S., South Korea, and Japan—an event Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned as a rehearsal for invasion.

Kim Jong Un's pledge to expand nuclear arsenal

On Monday, during North Korea’s founding anniversary celebrations, Kim Jong Un declared his commitment to exponentially increasing the country's nuclear capabilities. He emphasised that North Korea must be ready to utilise its nuclear weapons at any moment to safeguard the state’s security rights. He cited the growing threat posed by a U.S.-led military alliance in the region, stressing the need for a strong military presence.

Growing hostilities between the koreas

Thursday’s missile tests occurred shortly after North Korea launched hundreds of large balloons filled with waste into South Korea, a retaliatory move against anti-Pyongyang leaflets flown by South Korean activists. Tensions between the Koreas have been escalating since 2022, with North Korea ramping up its missile testing while the U.S. and South Korea continue to expand military drills, which North Korea deems as invasion rehearsals.