North Korea Launches Short-Range Missiles as Kim Jong Un Ups Nuclear Threat

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, marking its first public weapons test in over two months. The missiles, launched from Pyongyang, traveled approximately 360 kilometers before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed officials to ensure the safety of ships and aircraft in the area, though no damage has been reported. The trajectory of the missiles suggests they were intended to target South Korean locations.
The launches come shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear forces, claiming that the US-led regional military bloc poses a “grave threat” to his country. Kim’s speech on Monday, marking his government’s 76th anniversary, emphasized his commitment to making North Korea’s nuclear arsenal fully ready for combat.
The US, South Korea, and Japan have condemned the missile tests, viewing them as a threat to regional and international peace. The US Indo-Pacific Command reiterated its “ironclad” security commitment to South Korea and Japan in response to the provocations.
The timing of the launches coincides with speculation that North Korea might conduct a nuclear test or long-range missile launch before the upcoming US presidential election to increase its leverage in negotiations. Recent images from North Korea’s state media showed Kim inspecting a large vehicle that could be used for missile launches, raising further concerns about the development of more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles.