Seoul: North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, according to South Korea's military, marking the nation's first ballistic missile test since March. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported detecting the launch of various types of short-range ballistic missiles from Wonsan, a city on North Korea's eastern coast, between 8:10 a.m. and 9:20 a.m.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the missiles traveled up to 800 kilometers before landing in the East Sea. Further analysis of the launch is ongoing, and relevant information has been shared with the United States and Japan. The South Korean military condemned the launch as a "blatant provocative act" that poses a significant threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The JCS emphasized that under a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, the military is closely monitoring North Korean activities and maintaining a strong capability to respond to any provocations. They aim to ensure that North Korea does not miscalculate the situation.

This missile launch follows North Korea's previous firing of multiple ballistic missiles, believed to be short-range, on March 10, coinciding with joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S. It is also the second ballistic missile launch since U.S. President Donald Trump resumed office in January.

North Korea has largely refrained from major provocations this year, focusing instead on deepening military cooperation with Russia. Traditionally, North Korea has conducted weapons tests in response to combined military exercises by Seoul and Washington. However, experts note that this year, the country has chosen to issue more rhetoric rather than engage in significant provocations involving long-range ballistic missiles.