North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the sea from its eastern city of Wonsan on Thursday morning, in what South Korean officials believe may have been a test of missile performance and flight stability for potential exports.
The missiles, launched at approximately 8:10 a.m. local time (2310 GMT Wednesday), traveled up to 800 kilometers (497 miles) before landing in the waters off the country’s east coast, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A spokesperson for the South Korean military, Lee Sung-jun, declined to specify the number or exact type of missiles involved but noted that the launch appeared aimed at evaluating missiles intended for foreign buyers.
The Japanese government also confirmed detecting a missile, possibly following an irregular trajectory. The launches are in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ban North Korea from testing ballistic missile technology.
This test follows a series of recent launches and comes amid growing concerns over North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia. U.S. and allied intelligence agencies, along with independent researchers, have accused Pyongyang of supplying short-range ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine—a claim both North Korea and Russia deny. However, there have been reports of North Korean troops operating in Russia’s Kursk region.
The South Korean military stated it is coordinating closely with the United States and Japan to assess the launch and maintain regional security awareness.
