Seoul held out an offer to talk. On Thursday, the reply came by ballistic missile. North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast, and the North Korea missile launch landed less than a week after Seoul offered to talk. That’s according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, as relayed by Reuters.
Here’s what’s confirmed so far, and what isn’t.
What Seoul says happened in the North Korea missile launch
The launch came at about 12:30 p.m. local time from the area around Wonsan, on North Korea’s east coast. In response, Seoul’s military says it is strengthening surveillance and staying ready for more launches. It is also sharing information closely with the U.S. and Japan.
Japan’s Defence Ministry said the object could be a ballistic missile and that it fell outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Meanwhile, Japan’s Coast Guard said it had already fallen into the sea. So far, officials have reported no damage or casualties.
One caution on the count. “About 10” is an early estimate from Seoul, and some outlets are saying “around a dozen.” We’re using Seoul’s number until it firms up (missile math is apparently not an exact science in the first hours).
Why the timing of this Pyongyang missile launch matters
This didn’t happen in a vacuum. The two Koreas are locked in a fight over a landmine blast that wounded three South Korean soldiers, as Al Jazeera reports. A joint South Korea-UN investigation earlier this month concluded the North planted the mines more than a year ago. Seoul demanded an apology.
Pyongyang, however, denies it. This week it even wrote to the UN Security Council, accusing Seoul of fabricating the explosion. Then Seoul proposed talks, and Pyongyang answered with missiles.
The last launch was just over two weeks ago. On Oct. 12, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area, and at least one flew more than 900 km. U.S. Pacific Command said that test posed no immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory or allies, as The Korea Times reported. Pyongyang has now tested missiles on more than 10 occasions this year.
Here’s the thing for American readers
These were short-range missiles, so this is not the Hwasong-20 ICBM that Kim recently showed off. Analysts say that one can reach the United States. But the pace is the story.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies counts 34 North Korean missile launch events in the first 21 months of Trump’s second term. By comparison, it counted 17 at the same point in his first term. It also counts at least 93 missiles fired, already more than in all four years of the first term combined.
All of that has come even as the President has called Kim “unthreatening and respectful” and pushed for a summit. In August, Trump ordered a reduction in joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, citing his “very good relationship” with Kim, according to UPI. As of Oct. 14, Trump had privately discussed meeting Kim around the November summit in China, though reporters saw no sign of formal preparations.
So the question is plain: does friendly talk from Washington slow the launches, or does Pyongyang keep testing either way?
While you wait for answers, the tournament crowds are gathering back home. Our complete World Cup opening day guide covers the other big story across North America.
What to watch next after the North Korean missile test
Three things. First, a statement from North Korea’s state news agency. After the Oct. 12 test, it reported the next day, saying the launches verified improvements to key missile components. Second, a U.S. response. Reporters had found none at the time of this report. Third, whether Pyongyang answers Seoul’s offer of talks on the border dispute.
Seoul and Pyongyang remain technically at war, since the 1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Thursday was a reminder of that.
Elsewhere, today’s World Cup match schedule shows how different the mood looks on this side of the Pacific.
Washington has talked about a meeting. Pyongyang just answered with about 10 missiles.
