[Breaking News] North Korea Provokes After 8 Days... Launches Multiple Short-Range Ballistic Missiles

North Korea has once again launched ballistic missiles into the East Sea. This marks eight days since North Korea's 'missile provocation' with the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) on the 6th of this month.

Yonhap News

On the 14th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Ministry of National Defense press corps, "Around 9:30 a.m. today, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from the Kanggye area in Jagang Province toward the East Sea," adding, "We are currently sharing related information with the United States and Japan and are comprehensively analyzing the detailed specifications."

North Korea previously claimed success in testing a hypersonic IRBM on the 6th. Hypersonic missiles fly at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (6,120 km/h). At this speed, it takes only about one minute to fly from Pyongyang to Seoul.

North Korea's successive missile provocations are analyzed as a 'show of strength' to raise its bargaining power ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump's second administration scheduled for the 20th. Last year, North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) six hours before the U.S. presidential election. Five days earlier, on October 31, it test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) effectively aimed at the United States.

Considering these factors, there is speculation that North Korea may launch additional ICBMs ahead of President Trump's inauguration. Internally, this year is the final year of its five-year plan for defense development, so it needs to show results. At the end of last month, it also moved a transporter erector launcher (TEL) capable of launching ICBMs around the Pyongyang area.