Key Takeaways
- North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan on Thursday.
- The launch came after Pyongyang criticized Japan’s military build-up in the Pacific.
- South Korea and its allies are maintaining readiness for possible additional launches.
North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile over the Sea of Japan on Thursday, according to South Korea's military. The launch occurred just days after Pyongyang criticized Japan’s military build-up in the Pacific.
In a statement carried by North Korean state media, Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said that 'leadership will set up additional military options which are obviously due to Japan’s transformation.'
South Korea's joint chiefs of staff (JCS) reported that they detected one short-range ballistic missile launched from the Wonsan area at around 5pm local time. Authorities in Seoul and Washington were analyzing the missile's exact specifications.
The JCS stated that North Korea had launched the missile towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. Tokyo’s defence ministry confirmed a possible launch but said there was no impact on areas around Japan.
Seoul has strengthened surveillance and maintained readiness for potential additional launches while sharing information with its security allies — the United States and Japan.
North Korea has deepened economic and military ties with Russia, supplying troops and munitions for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Analysts suggest this launch could have been intended to test weapons before Kim Jong Un's expected visit to Russia later this year.
Japan's defence ministry declined to comment directly on the statement by Kim Yo Jong but emphasized that the country's defence capabilities remain bare minimum and are not meant to threaten other countries.
Tokyo raised its military expenditure by 9.7 per cent to $62.2 billion in 2025, equivalent to 1.4 per cent of GDP — its highest share since 1958. China, a key ally of North Korea, has also expressed alarm at what it sees as 'new militarism' by Japan.
