Seoul: North Korea has launched several short-range ballistic missiles, according to Seoul's military, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year.
According to France24.com, the missile launches coincide with the shorter edition of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States. These exercises have been scaled back following an order from President Trump. North Korea has consistently condemned the joint military exercises as rehearsals for an invasion and has frequently conducted missile tests in response.
President Trump, who claims to have developed a strong bond with Kim Jong-un during his first term, expressed his plans to meet the North Korean leader before the year's end. He emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations with Kim and noted that North Korea allegedly possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons, though Seoul estimates the number to be between 80 and 120.
Hours after Trump's announcement, an official from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea launched "around 10 short-range ballistic missiles" from the Pyongyang area. Meanwhile, Japan's prime minister's office issued a statement, via an X post, indicating that a suspected ballistic missile launched by North Korea had already fallen.
The developments have stirred concern among Asian allies, worried about Trump's renewed focus on Kim and the reduction of joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea. This comes amid speculation that Trump might be seeking a foreign policy victory as tensions with Iran persist.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un, stated that her brother still holds "good memories and feelings" about Trump and that their relationship remains "excellent." However, she acknowledged being unaware of any recent communication between the two leaders.
Her comments followed the announcement from Seoul that the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises would conclude on Friday, about a week earlier than scheduled, "at the suggestion of the U.S. side." The Pentagon assured that the reduced drills would not compromise U.S. training objectives, as the exercises aim to prepare for any potential attack from North Korea.
The United States maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea to support the country's defenses, a remnant of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Despite the ongoing tensions, South Korea's Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back affirmed Seoul's opposition to recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state and expressed confidence that Washington has not "given up" on North Korea's denuclearization.
President Lee Jae Myung, who advocates for stronger indigenous defenses to reduce South Korea's dependence on the United States, pledged on Wednesday to "do his utmost" to support Trump's efforts for peace with North Korea.