A TV screen shows an archive image of a North Korean missile launch during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul. (AP photo)
North Korea fired several rounds of ballistic missiles on Wednesday, just days after leader Kim Jong Un signaled a rare conciliatory note toward South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.The missiles were launched from an area near Wonsan towards the waters off the country’s eastern coast, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In response, Seoul held an emergency meeting of the National Security Council and urged Pyongyang to stop actions that violate UN Security Council resolutions.Hours later, North Korea launched at least another ballistic missile. While its exact range is unclear, the Japanese Coast Guard said it was likely the projectile had already fallen.
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According to Bloomberg, the launches came shortly after an unusual exchange between the two Koreas.
North Korea had previously conveyed Kim Jong-un’s praise of Lee’s apology over a drone incident that involved planes crossing into North Korean airspace. Seoul described this contact as an “important step forward” towards peaceful coexistence.Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister, said in a statement that the North Korean leader viewed Lee’s apology as a sign of a “frank and broad-minded” approach. However, Pyongyang later rejected Seoul’s explanation, calling it “hopeful dream reading.”
A senior North Korean official stressed that the message was a warning, stressing that South Korea remains a “hostile country” regardless of its actions or rhetoric.The latest launches also followed the launch of a projectile the previous day that may have been a failed weapons test. According to Yonhap News Agency, the missile showed signs of malfunction shortly after launch and disappeared mid-flight. Earlier on Wednesday, the short-range missiles traveled a distance of about 240 kilometers.The successive launches highlight the challenges facing Lee’s government as it seeks to ease tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.Analysts say Pyongyang is trying to counter Seoul’s diplomatic rhetoric while strengthening its power position on the Korean Peninsula, even as it continues to push for international recognition as a nuclear power.