North Korea launches several short-range ballistic missiles

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were fired from Sariwon, North Hwanghae Province in North Korea, on Monday at 22:30 GMT.

Additionally, South Korean military officials stated they are closely exchanging information with the United States and Japan regarding this missile launch and have intensified their surveillance.

The Japanese government also confirmed the missile launches from the DPRK. Japan's Coast Guard reported that the projectile, which might have been a ballistic missile, had already fallen. According to the Japanese news outlet NHK, the projectile apparently fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone in the ocean.

Before this, North Korean state media KCNA published a report in which Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, criticized the recent military exercises of the US, Japan, and South Korea. She described these allied drills as a threat and claimed they allegedly justified North Korea's nuclear program.

DPRK's missile launches

The last launch from North Korea occurred last week after testing a new large solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile called Hwasong-19.

According to Defense Express, the DPRK likely copied the Hwasong-19 missile from the Russian Yars missile system. Media speculation suggested that Pyongyang has made only slight modifications.

Additionally, Ukraine condemned the DPRK's intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled North Korea's actions as an irresponsible provocation.

At the end of October, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun stated that the DPRK might seek nuclear-related technology from Russia, wanting to exchange it for its troops sent to assist the Kremlin in the war against Ukraine.

It was also reported that in late September, North Korea decided to play into Putin's hands as Europe nears nuclear war.