North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles from near Wonsan into the sea on Thursday, according to South Korea’s military, amid rising border tensions with Seoul.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched at about 12:30pm (03:30 GMT) from an area around Wonsan on North Korea’s east coast into the Sea of Japan, according to Al Jazeera. The Hindu also reported the military’s account, saying it had detected the launches, bolstered surveillance and exchanged launch information with the United States and Japan.
Japan’s Defence Ministry said the launch was possibly a ballistic missile that fell outside its Exclusive Economic Zone, according to Kyodo News, as cited by Al Jazeera. Japan’s statement used the phrase "could be," and no other source confirmed it.
The launches come against a backdrop of disputes along the border. Landmine explosions on September 21 in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) injured three South Korean soldiers. A joint South Korea-UN investigation concluded that North Korea planted the mines more than a year ago, and Seoul called for an apology, according to Al Jazeera.
North Korea rejected the investigation’s finding. Its UN envoy, Kim Song, told the UN Security Council that South Korea’s claims were a "farce," according to Al Jazeera. Kim Yo Jong called Seoul’s apology demand "despicable."
Last week, North Korea said it would restart propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy new weapons along the border, in protest at South Korean warning shots, according to The Hindu.
Other recent events also form part of the picture. Kim Jong Un visited China, including the Dandong border city on October 24, days before the launches, to push for greater cooperation with Beijing. The launches followed recent North Korean weapons tests involving submarine-launched cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles. The launch also came a day after President Donald Trump suggested he might meet Kim this year, raising concerns that Seoul could be sidelined in potential nuclear talks.
The number of missiles is disputed. Al Jazeera and The Hindu report about 10, citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The South China Morning Post, citing the same military body, reports "around a dozen." The SCMP item is a short excerpt, so a full account was not available.
Seoul has proposed talks on clarifying the border and restoring communication channels, according to The Hindu. North Korea had not responded, and it was unclear whether it would agree. No North Korean statement on the launches was included in the sources, and no casualties or damage were reported. Analysis suggesting North Korea aimed to pressure the United States has not been verified.
South Korea’s military has stepped up surveillance against possible additional launches. It remains unclear whether North Korea will respond to Seoul’s talks proposal.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.