North Korea fires two rounds of ballistic missiles: Seoul military North Korea conducted two rounds of short-range ballistic missile launches on Wednesday, according to South Korea’s military, following an earlier unidentified projectile fired from the Pyongyang area the previous day. The South Korean military confirmed the launches, describing them as ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan region toward the East Sea. The first missile was launched around 8:50 am (2350 GMT Tuesday) and traveled approximately 240 kilometers, while the second, launched at 2:20 pm, flew over 700 kilometers. The Japan Coast Guard also reported an object suspected to be a ballistic missile was launched from North Korea, urging maritime vessels to remain vigilant. The missile tests mark North Korea’s fourth and fifth known ballistic missile launches this year, according to analysts. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who has sought to improve relations with North Korea since taking office in 2024, faced renewed tensions after expressing regret over civilian drone incursions into the North in January. Lee called the drone incidents “irresponsible” and noted that government officials were involved in the operation. However, North Korea’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, dismissed Seoul’s overtures as “hope-filled dream reading,” labeling the South as “the enemy state most hostile” to Pyongyang. She praised Lee’s actions as “wise behavior” but emphasized that North Korea’s anti-South stance remains firm. The military’s emergency response included an urgent meeting at Seoul’s Office of National Security, where officials demanded Pyongyang halt its provocative actions.#south_korea #north_korea #kim_yo_jong #lee_jae_myung #wonsan
