North Korea launched two ballistic missiles

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles early on Monday, one of which South Korea believes may have failed, in violation of multiple U.N. sanctions.

The missiles were launched from the Jangyon area of South Hwanghae province on North Korea’s west coast in a northeastern direction, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), indicating they would have flown across North Korea. The launches occurred just two days after the United States, South Korea, and Japan completed their first-ever joint exercises in the region. The U.S. military acknowledged the missile launches.

The JCS identified the first missile as a short-range ballistic missile, launched at around 5:05 a.m. local time, traveling about 372 miles (600 kilometers).

The second missile was fired 10 minutes later, traveling 74 miles (120 kilometers). The exact landing locations of the missiles have not been specified.

South Korean military spokesperson Lee Sung-joon suggested that the second missile might have failed and disintegrated during flight, potentially scattering debris inland.

South Korea’s military condemned North Korea’s missile tests as a “provocative act” and pledged to maintain “overwhelming readiness” against future launches. “While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance against additional launches, our military is maintaining a full-readiness posture while sharing North Korean ballistic missile data with U.S. and Japanese authorities,” it stated.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command also condemned the launches and urged North Korea to cease its “unlawful and destabilizing acts.” 

The U.S. military stated it was in close consultation with South Korea and Japan regarding North Korea’s missile launches and reaffirmed its commitment to defending its allies.

Monday’s second missile launch marked the second failed launch in five days. South Korea’s military reported that North Korea fired what appeared to be a hypersonic missile on Wednesday, which spiraled out of control and exploded.

The first missile fired on Monday resembled North Korea’s KN-23 short-range ballistic missile, similar to those reportedly used by Russia against Ukraine, although Pyongyang and Moscow deny this.

Last week, North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a missile capable of carrying multiple warheads, a claim South Korea dismissed as “deception” to cover up a failed launch.

“While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or our allies, we continue to monitor the situation,” the U.S. military stated.

US-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Drill
The missile launches occurred just two days after the United States, South Korea, and Japan concluded their first multi-domain trilateral exercise, “Freedom Edge,” on June 29. The three-day drill was announced in August last year following the Shangri-La Dialogue.

A week earlier, on June 19, North Korea and Russia signed a deal pledging military assistance to each other if attacked.

The U.S. allies responded by reiterating their commitment to enhancing “diplomatic and security cooperation” to counter North Korean threats, with the United States reaffirming its “ironclad” commitment to defending South Korea and Japan. They also urged North Korea to cease further provocations and return to negotiations.

The missile launches “should be of grave concern to anyone with an interest in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, upholding the global non-proliferation regime, and supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence against Russia’s brutal aggression,” they stated.

The “Freedom Edge” drill involved the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, along with destroyers, aircraft, and ships from the three allied nations. The exercise aimed to enhance cooperation in ballistic missile defense, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, defensive cyber training, and other capabilities.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral drill, calling it “reckless and provocative military muscle-flexing” against North Korea.

In a statement by the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea said the drill had the “full-fledged appearance of an Asian-version NATO” and warned of “fatal consequences.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on June 27 that the drills were a “direct result of the leadership demonstrated at last year’s Camp David Summit.”

“In this new era of trilateral security cooperation, our combined will to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific has never been stronger,” he added