North Korea Launches Multiple Ballistic Missiles Again

In a striking demonstration of military capability, North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday, according to South Korean and Japanese officials. The missile launches occurred amid ongoing discussions between Washington and Seoul on revising their defensive posture against Pyongyang, underscoring heightened tensions in the region. Preliminary assessments suggest that the missiles were of short-range variety.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles were fired from areas near the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, at approximately 3:50 pm local time. The projectiles travelled roughly 350 kilometres before descending into waters off North Korea’s eastern coast.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Coast Guard confirmed the detection of several ballistic missiles, which reportedly fell into the sea within minutes. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reassured the public that the launches posed no threat to Japanese territory. Japanese authorities stated that the missiles reached a maximum altitude of around 80 kilometres.

South Korea’s National Security Office condemned the launches, calling them provocative acts and violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The office urged North Korea to immediately halt all missile tests. In a joint statement, Japan echoed these concerns, warning that repeated missile launches jeopardise the peace and security of not only Japan but also the wider regional and international community.

Recent North Korean Missile Tests

The North Korean regime has recently intensified tests of short-range missiles and multiple rocket launchers, claiming that such measures are essential for the defence of its strategic nuclear arsenal against perceived threats from the United States and South Korea.

International scrutiny increased following a 2024 defence pact signed with Moscow, under which Pyongyang supplied short-range ballistic missiles and artillery to support Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. Analysts suggest that these developments have broader implications for global security and regional stability.

The latest missile activity coincided with a visit to South Korea by a senior U.S. defence official, who is in the country to discuss modernisation of the military alliance. Washington has expressed its intention to take a comparatively limited role in joint defence measures, making Seoul’s security coordination more crucial amid Pyongyang’s continued missile tests.

These repeated launches emphasise North Korea’s ongoing focus on advancing its missile capabilities while testing the responses of regional powers and the international community, raising concerns over escalating tensions in Northeast Asia.