North Korea launched a solid fueled Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, April 13, 2023, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA)
SUWON, South Korea — North Korea launched a barrage of at least 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, according to the South’s military.
The weapons, fired around 6:14 a.m. from Pyongyang’s Sunan area, flew 217 miles before splashing into what’s known in South Korea as the East Sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to news reporters.
The Japanese Prime Minister’s Office warned the public about a “suspected ballistic missile” launched from North Korea in a 6:24 a.m. post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs condemned the incident, describing it as “an apparent provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability.” The military is “fully prepared” and is sharing information about the missiles with the United States and Japan, the message said.
The barrage came days after Pyongyang’s failed attempt to place a spy satellite into orbit on Monday. A rocket carrying the satellite exploded roughly two minutes after launch, sending debris into the Yellow Sea.
That was North Korea’s third unsuccessful attempt to launch a satellite in 12 months and prompted its leader, Kim Jong Un, to admit failure and vow to learn from the mistakes, according to a state-run Korean Central News Agency report Wednesday.
“This launch failed … but there is something that we need to clarify, whether it was successful or not,” he said, according to KCNA. “The possession of military reconnaissance satellites is necessary for our country to strengthen self-defense.
“Through failure, we can learn more and develop in a bigger way,” he added.
Kim has vowed to place three military satellites into orbit this calendar year, KCNA reported Dec. 31. The United States, South Korea and Japan separately denounced Monday’s attempt, saying the North violated U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting it from testing ballistic missiles.
A day after the failed launch, North Korea sent around 260 balloons reportedly filled with manure and trash across its southern border.
The North Korean dictator’s sister, senior ruling party official Kim Yo Jong, called the “gifts” a response to balloons routinely sent to the North by South Korean human rights activists, according to a statement KCNA published Wednesday. Those typically carry money, food and household goods.
