South Korea’s presidential office has strongly criticized North Korea for launching over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday. The office has instructed the military to be on high alert during the ongoing joint exercises with the United States. An emergency security meeting was held with officials from the Defence Ministry and military authorities after North Korea fired the missiles from the Pyongyang area towards the eastern sea of the Korean Peninsula.
The presidential office described the missile launch as a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions and demanded an immediate cessation of such actions by North Korea. South Korean officials assessed the security implications of the missile launches and discussed necessary measures in response to the situation.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea. This missile activity occurred following the announcement of scaling back the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises by the South Korean and U.S. militaries, which were set to conclude by the end of Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the exercise just before it commenced, citing a positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s reluctance to support U.S. actions in Iran. Trump mentioned that North Korea possesses 57 potent nuclear weapons, while South Korean officials estimate the number to be between 80 and 120 warheads.
The missile launch by North Korea is believed to be a multi-purpose action, signaling opposition to the joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S., expressing discontent over discussions about North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and cautioning other nations against interfering in Pyongyang’s security matters.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to Seoul, encouraged South Korea to maintain a neutral stance between China and the U.S., advocating for a peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. Recent interactions between North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and China’s Xi Jinping indicate a strengthening of ties between the two countries.