North Korea fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea on Thursday, just hours after US President Donald Trump announced plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year.
The launches happened around 5:00 pm local time on Thursday from the Pyongyang area, with the missiles travelling roughly 300 kilometres before landing in the sea.
Trump-Kim Summit in Jeopardy as Tensions Flare
South Korea condemned the launches, calling them a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The missile tests happened during the US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, which were shortened this year. Military officials from both South Korea and the United States are analysing the missiles to determine their exact specifications.
The government also ordered the military to remain on heightened alert. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's office held an emergency security meeting after North Korea launched the missiles, ordering the military to remain on heightened alert. The Pentagon, however, insisted the shorter exercise would cause "no degradation to US training objectives."
Kim Jong Un's Sister Defends Trump Relationship
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, spoke about her brother's relationship with Trump, saying he had "good memories and feelings" about the US president. Just a day before the missile launch, Kim Yo Jong spoke positively about Trump, saying her brother still has "good memories and feelings" about the US president and that the relationship between both leaders remains "excellent".
However, she also noted that she was unaware of any ongoing communication between Trump and Kim. The relationship between the two leaders has been marked by periods of tension and diplomatic breakthroughs, but Thursday's developments prove that military tensions are still very much alive.
Diplomatic Efforts Remain Uncertain
Trump's renewed interest in direct talks with Kim has unsettled several US allies in Asia, especially after Washington reduced the scale of joint military drills with South Korea. South Korea has maintained that it does not support officially recognising North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state.
President Lee Jae Myung also pledged to support Trump's efforts to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula while continuing to strengthen South Korea's own defence capabilities. Whether both leaders eventually meet later this year remains uncertain, but Thursday's developments prove that peace talks with North Korea rarely follow a straightforward path.
Source: Pulse.ng
