North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles towards sea

Seoul: North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, drawing swift condemnation from its neighbours. The missiles were fired from the Sinpo area, an eastern coastal city known for its submarine shipyards, and flew nearly 140km before landing in the water.

The launches took place shortly before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was scheduled to depart for official visits to India and Vietnam. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military remains prepared to repel provocations while sharing intelligence with the US and Japan. 

In Tokyo, the defence ministry protested the move, citing violations of UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from engaging in ballistic activities.

A primary concern for regional security is if the missiles were launched from a submarine. If confirmed, this would be North Korea’s first such test in four years. 

Underwater launch capabilities are particularly worrying for rivals like the US and Japan as they are harder to detect in advance. Last year, North Korea showcased a nuclear-powered submarine currently under construction.

The tests coincide with heightened activity at North Korean nuclear sites. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently reported a rapid rise in manufacturing activities at the Yongbyon nuclear complex and other uranium-enrichment sites. This expansion suggests a serious boost in the country’s nuclear weapons production capacity.

Analysts suggest the timing of the launches is strategic. Leader Kim Jong Un may be attempting to strengthen his hand before a scheduled summit between US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.  While Kim has expressed a willingness to resume dialogue with Trump, he has demanded that Washington drop its insistence on nuclear disarmament as a precondition. Since the collapse of high-stakes diplomacy in 2019, the North has consistently worked to enlarge its nuclear and missile arsenals.