North Korea tested ballistic missiles in latest military demonstration, say neighbors

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea test-fired several ballistic missiles toward its eastern seas on Wednesday, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, continuing military displays as tensions escalate with Washington and its neighbors.

The launches come just days after North Korea provided a rare glimpse of a secret uranium enrichment facility for nuclear bombs, while ruler Kim Jong Un called for a rapid expansion of his nuclear weapons program.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of the South Korean Armed Forces said it had spotted North Korea firing several short-range ballistic missiles from the north of its capital, Pyongyang, covering a distance of about 400 kilometers on their way to the northeast.

The Chief of Staff said they were in close contact with the US and Japan in analyzing the launches, but did not initially provide any further flight details.

The Japanese Defense Ministry said it had registered at least two launches, but did not immediately provide information on what types of missiles were used or how far they flew.

The Japanese coast guard said the missiles were believed to have already landed in waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan, and urged ships to watch for falling objects. Japanese broadcaster NHK said the missiles were believed to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The South Korean General Staff condemned the missile launches as a provocation that “seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.” In a statement, it said the South Korean and U.S. militaries would closely monitor North Korean activities while maintaining a joint defense posture “to be able to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation.”

North Korea did not immediately confirm the launches. They followed a previous round of ballistic tests last week, when Kim promised his nuclear forces were fully ready to fight their rivals.

The North said the Sept. 12 launches involved its “super-large” 600mm multiple rocket launchers, which it described as capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads. Experts say North Korea's large-scale artillery rockets blur the line between artillery systems and ballistic missiles because they generate their own thrust and are guided during launch.

Since 2022, North Korea has intensified its weapons tests to expand and modernize its arsenal of nuclear missiles against the United States and South Korea. The allies have expanded their joint military exercises and are updating their nuclear deterrence strategies based on American assets to counter the growing threat from the North.

Analysts say Kim's long-term goal is to force the United States to accept the North as a nuclear power and to negotiate economic and security concessions from a position of strength.

When Kim announced the uranium enrichment plant last week, he called for greater efforts to increase the number of nuclear weapons “exponentially” in the face of what he described as a threat from the United States. State media published photos showing Kim talking to military officials and scientists among long, lonely rows of centrifuges used to produce weapons-grade uranium. But the reports did not mention where the plant is located or when Kim visited it.

Analysts believe North Korea could conduct a nuclear test or a long-range missile test before the U.S. presidential election in November to influence the outcome and strengthen its influence in future dealings with the new U.S. administration.

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Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.

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