The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected various types of projectiles, including close-range ballistic missiles, fired from the area of Jongju, North Pyongan Province, toward waters off the North’s west coast at around 1 p.m.
The close-range ballistic missiles flew about 80 kilometers, and the military believes North Korea also fired artillery rockets, a type of multiple rocket launcher system, along with them.
It is unusual for North Korea to fire close-range ballistic missiles and artillery rockets at the same time. The launch is seen as an apparent attempt to demonstrate its ability to evade air defenses and conduct mixed-fire strikes.
Military authorities are also keeping open the possibility that loitering munitions, or so-called suicide drones, may have been used in the launch.
Officials reportedly detected trajectories on radar that differed from those of typical ballistic missiles or artillery rockets, raising the possibility that a new weapons system was involved. The military said further analysis is needed to make a precise assessment.
The launch marked North Korea’s first ballistic missile firing in 37 days and its eighth such launch this year.
On April 19, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles from the eastern coastal area of Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province, toward the East Sea, claiming they were equipped with cluster warheads.
North Korean state media said Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch of five upgraded Hwasong-11 Ra tactical ballistic missiles, which struck a target zone 136 kilometers away and covered an area of about 12.5 to 13 hectares. The test was aimed at assessing new warheads carrying cluster bombs and fragmentation mines.
The South Korean Unification Ministry later noted that an unusually large number of commanders from North Korean frontline units were present at the test, saying this appeared to underscore Kim’s push to expand tactical missile deployments against South Korea.
Tuesday’s launch drew attention as it came amid speculation that Xi could visit North Korea as early as this week.
If Xi’s visit takes place following recent U.S.-China and China-Russia summits, it would be Xi’s first trip to North Korea since June 2019.
“The government once again calls on North Korea to respond to our peace policy and efforts to reduce tensions,” South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il said at a briefing Tuesday.
Park said South Korea will continue pursuing a phased and pragmatic approach to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue while maintaining close coordination with the international community.
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