SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea yesterday, according to Seoul’s military, in what experts said could be a message to United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
The launch came as Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited South Korea for a series of meetings with top officials, with the Asian neighbours seeking to boost bilateral ties before Trump returns to office next week.
“The South Korean military detected several short-range ballistic missiles fired into the East Sea,” Seoul’s military said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.
South Korean and US intelligence agencies had monitored Pyongyang’s launch preparations, the military said, with Seoul maintaining “full readiness” and sharing information with Washington and Tokyo.
Yesterday’s launch took place around 9.30am near North Korea’s Ganggye area, with the missiles flying 250 kilometres before landing in the sea, according to the military.
The United States Indo-Pacific Command condemned the test, calling on North Korea “to refrain from further unlawful and destabilising acts”.
Seoul’s acting president Choi Sang-mok also slammed the launch, saying it violated United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions.
“Seoul will respond more strongly to North Korea’s provocations based on its strong security posture and alliance with the US,” he said.
Experts said the latest launch could be intended as a message to the incoming US president.
“It may indicate an intention to put pressure ahead of the Trump administration’s second term,” said president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul Yang Moo-jin.
A defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies Ahn Chan-il told AFP the test launch “appears to be an intention to assert presence ahead of the Trump administration”.
