North Korea Fires About 10 Short-Range Ballistic Missiles into the East Sea

Three Days After the Failure of the Military Reconnaissance Satellite Launch

On the 30th, North Korea launched unidentified ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Around 6:14 a.m. this morning, we detected about 10 flying objects presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Sunan area of North Korea toward the East Sea."

This ballistic missile launch by North Korea comes 13 days after a single short-range missile flew 300 km on the 17th, and just three days after a failed launch of a military reconnaissance satellite-carrying projectile that exploded mid-air on the night of the 27th.

Japan's NHK, citing data from the Japan Coast Guard, reported that "objects possibly ballistic missiles launched by North Korea appear to have already fallen." Accordingly, there is a possibility that these are short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM).

Since the night of the 28th, North Korea has continued protests using various means, including sending balloons carrying filth toward South Korea. Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, stated in a message the day before that the balloons sent to South Korea are "freedom of expression" and warned, "We will respond to each case with several tens of times the amount of filth that South Korea sprays on us in the future."