North Korea carried out a suspected ballistic missile launch toward the sea on Thursday, according to detection by Japan’s prime minister’s office. South Korean media reported that the projectile was fired from the North’s east coast, though specific details about the launch remained limited.
The launch occurred a day after the South Korean and U.S. militaries announced they would scale back their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises. This reduction followed an order from U.S. President Donald Trump directing the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the drills. Trump cited what he characterized as a positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and expressed concerns about South Korea’s position regarding U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict.
In response to the scaled-back exercises, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, issued a statement dismissing the U.S. gesture. She characterized the reduction as insufficient and stated that the fundamental nature of the military drills would remain unchanged regardless of their size or duration. She warned that if the U.S. expected credit for what it termed a good-faith measure, North Korea would not provide the response Washington sought.
Kim Yo Jong also referenced other military activities in the region, pointing to earlier joint drills conducted by U.S. and South Korean forces earlier in the year and South Korea’s plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Her remarks suggested North Korea views these broader military developments as more significant than the temporary reduction in the exercises.
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