North Korea launched several ballistic missiles early on September 12, flying approximately 250 kilometers.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that at around 5:20 a.m., multiple short-range ballistic missiles were detected being fired from the Wonsan area into the East Sea. They added, "The U.S. and South Korea are currently conducting a detailed analysis of the exact specifications of the missiles."
They emphasized, "Our military maintains a robust readiness posture under the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, closely monitoring North Korea's various activities and ensuring we can respond overwhelmingly to any provocations."
This launch marks the first since August 20, occurring 23 days later. Analysts suggest it may be a response to the recent Freedom Shield military exercises conducted by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan from September 7 to 11 in the waters southeast of Jeju.
Previously, on August 20, North Korea also launched ballistic missiles while U.S. and South Korean forces were conducting their regular joint exercise, the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS).
This year, North Korea's ballistic missile launches have reached 13. However, since September 6, North Korea has remained silent regarding three previous missile launches. It remains to be seen whether they will comment on this latest launch.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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