North Korea Fires Missiles into West Sea... National Security Office Reviews Readiness with Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Office of National Security announced that, regarding North Korea’s launch of several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the West Sea on May 26, it has checked the situation with relevant agencies such as the Joint Chiefs of Staff and has reviewed readiness posture.

The North Korean Missile Command conducted a test launch on the 19th to evaluate the power of the improved ground-to-ground tactical ballistic missile 'Hwasongpho-11ra' warhead, under the observation of Chairman Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju-ae, according to Korean Central Television on the 20th. [Korean Central Television screen] Yonhap News Agency

This is the first time in 37 days that North Korea has launched ballistic missiles, and it is the eighth such launch this year. The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Around 1 p.m. today, we detected several short-range ballistic missiles and other projectiles launched into the West Sea from the area of Jeongju, North Pyongan Province." The Joint Chiefs of Staff also added, "In preparation for additional launches, South Korea, the United States, and Japan are closely sharing information related to North Korean ballistic missiles and maintaining a heightened state of readiness."

This latest provocation comes amid speculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping could visit North Korea as early as this week. Following recent summits between the U.S. and China, and between China and Russia, there are observations that President Xi’s visit to North Korea, if realized, could mark a turning point in the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Should President Xi’s visit take place, it would be his first since June 2019.

Amid these developments, North Korea’s ballistic missile launch is being interpreted as a continued assertion of its self-proclaimed status as a "nuclear-armed state" and its commitment to strengthening its missile capabilities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.