18 Mar 2024 | 01:15 AM UTC
North Korea: Pyongyang reportedly launches several short-range missiles toward Sea of Japan (East Sea) morning of March 18
North Korea launches several short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) morning of March 18. No reports of damage or casualties.
South Korean officials reported that North Korea launched at least three suspected ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) 07:00-09:00 March 18. The flight paths and distances of the projectiles remain unclear. There were no immediate reports of damage, casualties, or transport disruptions following the launch. Additional projectile launches are possible over the coming days.
The latest ballistic missile launch marks the second such instance this year; to date, Pyongyang has also conducted at least five cruise missile tests. The series of missile launches came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared Seoul as its principal enemy and abolished all economic cooperation agreements with South Korea. Kim had also participated in four large-scale military drills in the first two weeks of March, aimed at stimulating scenarios of war with South Korea.
The latest launch comes one day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul for the Summit for Democracy. Pyongyang's action is also likely a reaction to Seoul and Washington's annual Freedom Shield military exercise, focused on bolstering deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, which wrapped up on March 14.
Against the backdrop of the upcoming General Election in South Korea, slated to occur April 10, as well as the US Presidential Election on Nov. 5, North Korea is likely to continue increasing the frequency of projectile launches and missile tests in the coming months. South Korean officials have also noted the possibility of localized provocation by Pyongyang on the border islands of South Korea. However, both sides will likely avoid any actions that could escalate into a full-scale conflict.
