SEOUL: North Korea launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its eastern coast on Thursday, according to South Korea’s military, prompting heightened monitoring amid ongoing security tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the missiles were launched at around 12:30 p.m. local time from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast. The projectiles travelled towards the sea, although further details about their flight distances and trajectories were not immediately available.
In a statement, the JCS said South Korean forces were maintaining a heightened state of readiness and closely monitoring North Korea for any additional launches. The military was also coordinating with the United States and Japan to exchange information and assess the situation.
Japan Reports Suspected Ballistic Missile
Japanese authorities also detected the launch of an object believed to be a ballistic missile. Japan’s Defense Ministry said the projectile fell outside the country’s exclusive economic zone, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency.
Japan’s Coast Guard had earlier issued a warning indicating that the launched object was suspected to be a ballistic missile and had already fallen into the sea.
The incident adds to concerns among regional governments over North Korea’s continued missile development and testing activities. South Korea, the United States and Japan maintain close security cooperation to monitor such launches and evaluate potential threats.
Repeated Missile Activity Keeps Region on Alert
The latest launch follows North Korea’s previous reported ballistic missile test on October 12. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have also been elevated following a mine explosion near the inter-Korean border that injured South Korean soldiers the previous month.
North Korea has conducted missile tests on more than 10 occasions this year, according to the information reported by South Korean authorities. The repeated launches have kept neighbouring countries on alert as they continue to assess Pyongyang’s military capabilities and intentions.
While the immediate impact of Thursday’s launch remained unclear, South Korea’s military said it would continue surveillance and maintain coordination with its security partners.
The latest incident underscores the persistent challenges facing regional security efforts, with missile testing and tensions along the heavily guarded inter-Korean border continuing to draw attention from governments across Northeast Asia.
