North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, according to neighboring countries, just days after the International Atomic Energy Agency warned of significant advances in Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.
South Korea’s military said the missiles were launched from the Sinpo area on the country’s east coast and traveled about 140 kilometers toward eastern waters. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it remains fully prepared to counter any provocations and is coordinating closely with the United States and Japan.
In an emergency meeting, South Korea’s National Security Council expressed concern over the continued missile tests and urged North Korea to halt such activities. The launches occurred just hours before President Lee Jae Myung departed for official visits to India and Vietnam.
Both the US and Japan confirmed detecting the launches. The United States Indo-Pacific Command reaffirmed its commitment to defending its homeland and allies, while Japan’s Defense Ministry lodged a strong protest, calling the tests a violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning North Korean ballistic missile activity.
Sinpo, the reported launch site, is a key naval hub where North Korea builds submarines. South Korean officials are investigating whether the missiles were launched from land, a submarine, or both. Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Masahisa Miyazaki said Tokyo is working with Washington and Seoul to analyze the details.
If confirmed as a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test, it would mark North Korea’s first such launch in four years—an important development because underwater launches are harder to detect in advance. Pyongyang has also revealed a nuclear-powered submarine under construction in recent months.
The launches are part of a broader series of weapons tests this year. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen multiple missile and weapons demonstrations, including tests involving new warhead designs and solid-fuel engines capable of reaching the US mainland.
Kim has accelerated weapons development since nuclear talks with then-US President Donald Trump broke down in 2019. While Trump has recently signaled openness to renewed diplomacy, North Korea insists that the US drop its demand for denuclearization as a precondition for negotiations.
Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next month, a development analysts say could create a diplomatic opening involving Pyongyang. Some observers believe North Korea’s recent tests are aimed at strengthening its bargaining position ahead of potential talks.
Meanwhile, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said there has been a “rapid increase” in activity at North Korea’s nuclear facilities, pointing to a serious expansion of its weapons production capabilities. Outside experts also note ongoing upgrades at the Yongbyon nuclear complex and the operation of multiple uranium enrichment sites.
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