South Korea Reports North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Launch Over Sea

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s military. This marks another demonstration of the North’s weapons capabilities this year.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired from the city of Jongju on the North’s west coast.

South Korea has tightened its surveillance posture and is exchanging related intelligence closely with the United States and Japan.

This is North Korea’s first weapons launch since April 19, when it fired multiple short-range missiles in a display described by state media as a demonstration of cluster bomb warheads.

Since the collapse of nuclear talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, Kim Jong‑Un has expanded the country’s nuclear and missile programs. Trump had repeatedly urged a return to talks, but Pyongyang has largely ignored these overtures, insisting that Washington lift its conditions for denuclearization.

Kim has adopted an increasingly hardline posture toward South Korea, branding it as the “permanent and most hostile enemy” and moving to sever all ties.

Earlier Tuesday, South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung, during a cabinet meeting, called for stronger military capabilities, emphasizing artificial intelligence, drone technology, and the potential acquisition of a nuclear‑powered submarine—a point that has been part of his discussions with Washington.

Lee, a liberal who supports improved relations with North Korea, did not comment directly on the recent missile threat. He stressed the importance of South Korea demonstrating its “resolve to take responsibility for and protect our own security ourselves,” noting that such a stance would also reinforce the alliance with the United States.

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