North Korea fires short-range missiles in a provocative move ahead of Trump’s return

SEOUL: North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday, marking a provocative move that experts believe may be aimed at sending a message to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.

According to South Korea’s military, the missiles were fired into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. The launch occurred as Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya was in South Korea for high-level meetings, with the two countries seeking to enhance bilateral relations before Trump returns to office next week.

The South Korean military confirmed that the missiles travelled approximately 250 kilometres (155 miles) before landing in the sea. The launch took place around 9:30 am local time (0030 GMT) near the Ganggye area in North Korea. South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies had been monitoring the launch preparations, with Seoul maintaining full readiness and sharing intelligence with Washington and Tokyo.

The United States Indo-Pacific Command condemned the missile test, urging North Korea to refrain from any further destabilizing actions. “We continue to call on North Korea to avoid further unlawful and destabilizing acts,” a statement from the command read.

In a separate response, South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, strongly condemned the launch, calling it a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. He vowed that Seoul would respond more strongly to North Korea’s provocations, based on the country’s strong security posture and its alliance with the U.S.

Experts speculated that the launch could be an attempt by North Korea to exert pressure on the incoming Trump administration ahead of his second term. Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, noted that the move might be designed to send a clear signal to Washington.

Tuesday’s launch follows North Korea’s hypersonic missile test last week, marking its second missile launch this month. The test site for the hypersonic missile was not disclosed, but North Korean state media released images showing leader Kim Jong Un observing the test with his daughter, Ju Ae.

The state media also reported that a “new compound of carbon fibre” was used in the missile’s engine, which experts warned could provide North Korea with the technology to hit more distant targets—capabilities currently possessed only by the United States, Russia, and China.

In response to North Korea’s advancing missile technology, South Korea’s state arms procurement agency announced that it has begun developing a new missile defence system. The new system will be designed to intercept North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats at higher altitudes. The missile defence system is expected to cost 567.7 billion won ($388 million) and is scheduled for completion by 2028, according to a statement from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).