North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, its neighbors said, continuing a pattern of weapons tests this year.
The missiles fired from Sinpo, an eastern coastal city in North Korea, flew about 140 kilometers (87 miles) each in a direction toward the country’s eastern waters, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. South Korea maintains a readiness to repel any provocations and is closely exchanging information with the U.S. and Japan.
The launches demonstrate North Korea’s continued expansion of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, drawing international warnings about the country’s weapons development as diplomatic tensions with the United States persist.
Detection and Regional Response
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said it remains committed to the defense of the U.S. homeland and its allies in the region. Japan’s Defense Ministry strongly protested to Pyongyang, saying the launches threaten regional and international peace and violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban ballistic activities by North Korea.
In an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, South Korean officials expressed concerns about North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile tests and urged the country to stop them immediately.
Submarine Test or Land-Based Launch?
South Korea’s military was analyzing whether the launches came from a submarine, a land-based launcher, or both platforms. If launched from a submarine, it would mark North Korea’s first submarine-launched ballistic missile test in four years, according to South Korean media reports.
Obtaining a greater ability to fire missiles from underwater would be a concerning development for regional powers, because such launches are difficult to detect in advance. Last year, North Korea unveiled a nuclear-powered submarine under construction for the first time.
Escalating Arsenal
Sunday’s launches are the latest in North Korea’s run of weapons tests this year. Last week, state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un supervised missile tests from the country’s destroyer. In previous weeks, North Korea reported three days of testing activities to examine ballistic missiles armed with cluster-bomb warheads and other new weapons systems. Last month, it said it tested an upgraded solid-fuel engine for missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday that his agency has confirmed “a rapid increase” in activities at nuclear manufacturing facilities in North Korea. Grossi told reporters in Seoul that the activities point to “a very serious increase” in the country’s nuclear weapons production capabilities.
His comments echoed observations by many outside analysts that North Korea has expanded its main Yongbyon nuclear complex and built additional uranium-enrichment sites in recent years. South Korea’s Unification Minister reported in September that North Korea was operating four uranium enrichment facilities and running them continuously.
Strategic Context
Kim has focused on enlarging his nuclear and missile arsenals since his nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to restore diplomacy with Kim, and the North Korean leader has recently left open the door for dialogue with Trump but urged Washington to drop demands for the North’s nuclear disarmament as a precondition for talks.
Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing for a rescheduled summit with Xi Jinping in May. Some observers said North Korea’s recent testing activities were likely meant to increase its leverage in future dealings with the U.S., as the Trump-Xi meeting could provide a diplomatic opening with Pyongyang.
The launches came hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung left the country to visit India and Vietnam.