South Korea says North Korea has fired several missiles toward its
eastern waters
[May 08, 2025]
By KIM TONG-HYUNG
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Thursday fired various types of
short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea, South Korea’s
military said, adding to a run in military displays that raised
animosities in the region. South Korean military officials were
analyzing whether the tests were linked to the North’s weapons exports
to Russia during its war in Ukraine.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said multiple missiles were launched
from the area around the eastern port city of Wonsan from about 8:10 to
9:20 a.m., with the farthest traveling about 800 kilometers (497 miles).
It didn’t immediately confirm the exact number of the missiles it
detected.
Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs, said in a briefing the
North Korean launches were possibly intended to test the performance of
weapons it plans to export, as the country continues to send military
equipment and troops to fuel Russia’s warfighting against Ukraine.
Lee said the tests likely involved a short-range ballistic missile
system launched from vehicles — possibly modeled after Russia’s Iskander
missile — and also large-caliber rocket artillery systems, which experts
say blur the line between traditional artillery and ballistic systems
due to their self-propulsion and guided flight.
The Joint Chiefs said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities
detected the launch preparations in advance and tracked the missiles
after they were launched. The countries were sharing the launch
information with Japan, the Joint Chiefs said. It issued a statement
denouncing the launches as a “clear act of provocation” that threatens
peace and stability in the region.
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that none of the
North Korean missiles reached Japan’s exclusive economic zone and there
was no damage to vessels or aircraft in the area. Nakatani said Japan’s
government “sternly protested and strongly condemned” the launches
through the North Korean embassy in Beijing.
It was the North’s first known ballistic activity since March 10, when
it fired several ballistic missiles hours after U.S. and South Korean
troops began an annual combined military exercise, and the country’s
sixth launch event of the year.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to accelerate the development
of his nuclear and missile program and supply weapons and troops to
support Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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A TV screen shows a file image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South
Korea, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Thursday’s launch came a day after North Korean state media said Kim
urged munition workers to boost the production of artillery shells
amid his deepening alignment with Moscow.
After denying its war involvement for months, North Korea last month
confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to help
Russia in recapturing parts of the Kursk region, which had fallen to
a surprise Ukrainian incursion last year. Moscow also acknowledged
the North Korean involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin
issuing a statement thanking the North for sending troops to support
his forces and promising not to forget their sacrifices.
Recent South Korean intelligence assessments suggest that North
Korea has sent about 15,000 soldiers to Russia, and that nearly
5,000 of them have been killed or injured while fighting against
Ukrainian forces. Washington and Seoul have also accused North Korea
of supplying Russia with various types of military equipment,
including artillery systems and shells and ballistic missiles.
Analysts say North Korea’s official acknowledgment of its military
support for Russia is likely aimed at cementing a deeper, long-term
partnership with Moscow and securing greater compensation,
potentially including advanced military technology that could
enhance the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear-armed forces.
By formalizing its role as a participant in the war, North Korea may
also be positioning itself to seek compensation in future
negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, according to a recent
report by the Institute for National Security Strategy, a think tank
affiliated with South Korea’s intelligence agency.
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AP writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to the story from Tokyo.
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