South Korea’s military reports a short range missile barrage into eastern waters. Japan has ordered information gathering and precautions for aircraft and vessels.
North Korea fired about ten short range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a Reuters report. The military placed the launches near Wonsan at about 12:30 p.m. Korean time, or 03:30 UTC.
Reuters reports that South Korea increased surveillance and shared information with the United States and Japan. Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office separately published instructions at 12:38 p.m. to gather information, protect aircraft and vessels, and prepare for contingencies.
The reported missile count is attributed to the South Korean military. Japan’s precautionary instructions confirm an official response, but do not independently establish the number of missiles or their type.
Readers should distinguish these military assessments from a verified account of North Korea’s intent. The sources reviewed here do not establish an attack on a populated area. The archive image shows Wonsan in 2019, not a launch or its aftermath.