Military Space News
MISSILE NEWS
North Korea fires flurry of short-range ballistic missiles
North Korea fires flurry of short-range ballistic missiles
By Claire LEE
Seoul (AFP) May 8, 2025

North Korea fired multiple types of short-range ballistic missiles Thursday, South Korea's military said, around a week after leader Kim Jong Un tested a new weapons system for his latest warship.

Seoul's military said it had "detected the launch of various types of short-range ballistic missiles," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The missiles were "fired from the Wonsan area of North Korea into the East Sea between approximately 08:10 and 09:20 today (from 2310 GMT Wednesday)," they added, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

The missiles flew up to about 800 kilometers before splashing down in waters to the east of the peninsula, the JCS said, adding it strongly condemned the North for a "clear act of provocation that poses a serious threat to peace and stability".

"Our military, under the strong South Korea-US combined defense posture, is closely monitoring various North Korean activities to prevent any misjudgment (by the North)," it said in a statement.

The launch, the nuclear-armed North's first missile test since March, came about a week after Kim oversaw the test-firing of a new warship weapons system.

Pyongyang unveiled the 5,000-ton destroyer-class vessel named Choe Hyon last month.

North Korea claims the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons", and that it would "enter into operation early next year".

Some analysts have said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical nuclear missiles -- although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise its nukes.

The South Korean military has said the destroyer could have been developed with Russian help -- possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Kyiv.

Russia and North Korea also recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two neighbours.

North Korea launched a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions.

Experts have long warned that the nuclear-armed North may be testing weapons for export to Russia for use against Ukraine.

The launch also came as Russia prepared to hold World War II Victory Day commemorations, with world leaders including China's Xi Jinping expected to attend -- but not Pyongyang's Kim.

A three-day truce in the conflict with Ukraine has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin to coincide with the celebrations, although Kyiv has never agreed to it and has dismissed it as political theatre.

The Thursday missile launch appears to "serve as a reminder of North Korea's contribution and stake in Russia's apparent efforts to commemorate Victory Day as a triumph over Ukraine," Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP.

- Testing, testing -

Japan's defence ministry said there was no impact on Japan from the North Korean missiles, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Kim earlier this week inspected shell manufacturing at munitions factories, with state media claiming the country's shell output had increased dramatically in recent months.

Given the latest development, it is "entirely possible" that Thursday's missile launch "served as a test firing prior to potential export to Russia", North Korean studies scholar Ahn Chan-il told AFP.

South Korea's military said in early March that the North fired "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles", the same day Seoul and Washington began a major annual joint military drill known as Freedom Shield.

Pyongyang also carried out a test-launch of strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea in late February, which it said showed off "counterattack capabilities".

Washington -- Seoul's key security ally -- has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine, in the region to deter the North.

Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion.

The two Koreas are technically still at war as the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

With relations souring, the North last year blew up roads and railways connecting it to the South and fortified areas of the border with more mines.

In early April, South Korea's military said its troops fired warning shots when around 10 North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the heavily fortified border that divides the peninsula.

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MISSILE NEWS
Russian missile strike on Ukraine city kills three
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) May 6, 2025
A Russian ballistic missile strike Tuesday on the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed three people and wounded 11, with children among both the dead and injured, authorities said. "According to preliminary information, the enemy struck civilian infrastructure in the Sumy district with a ballistic missile," Ukraine's State Emergency Service said. "Three people are known to have died (two died in hospital, including one child) and 11 were injured, including five children," it added. Photos ... read more

MISSILE NEWS
Russia, China slam Trump's plan for 'Iron Dome' missile shield

Patriot defense system headed for Ukraine as ceasefire hopes dim

Israel says it downed Yemen-fired missile claimed by Huthis

Israel says intercepts missile fired by Yemen's Huthis

MISSILE NEWS
North Korea fires flurry of short-range ballistic missiles

Israel military tells Yemenis to evacuate Huthi-run ports

Russian missile strike on Ukraine city kills three

Huthis say US bombed Yemen after strike on Israel's main airport

MISSILE NEWS
Pakistan and India accuse each other of waves of drone attacks

Pakistan shoots down 25 Indian drones near military installations

Drones drag Sudan war into dangerous new territory

Lyten Unveils U.S.-Made Lithium-Sulfur Battery Platform for Advanced Drone Propulsion

MISSILE NEWS
Space Laser Communication Terminal Prototypes Enter Phase 2 for Advanced On-Orbit Crosslink Compatibility

China launches advanced Tianlian II-05 relay satellite to boost space communications

Sidus Space awarded US patent allowance for modular satellite system

HRL and Boeing advance quantum satellite communications milestone

MISSILE NEWS
Lithuania's parliament votes to withdraw from landmines treaty

Denmark to add 5,000 military positions

Nordics, Lithuania plan joint purchase of combat vehicles

Germany leads allies in $24B military aid package for Ukraine

MISSILE NEWS
Merz supports easing EU fiscal rules to boost defence spending

U.S. to begin immediately removing 1,000 transgender service members from military

NATO chief seeks defence spending at 5% of GDP by 2032: Dutch PM

VA secretary says job cuts would improve efficiency

MISSILE NEWS
Trump tells India and Pakistan to 'stop' clashes

Putin, Xi, Steven Seagal and missiles: Russia's Red Square parade

China congratulates Pope Leo on election, hopes for 'dialogue'

Moscow says 'no reason' to expect better German relations as Xi heads to Moscow

MISSILE NEWS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.