North Korea sent ripples around the world with the launch of several short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, raising tensions in its neighbouring country South Korea. The South Korean military reported that North Korea fired a projectile, thought to be a ballistic missile, after a pause of two months. Only a few days ago, Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, vowed to ready his nuclear forces for war against its enemies. Japan's Coast Guard also confirmed that a believed-to-be ballistic missile, fired by North Korea had already fallen down.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles flew 360 km before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan before they detected missiles that were launched from North Korea’s capital. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave officials instructions to ensure the safety of ships and aeroplanes. Although no damage was reported in the launch. 

The relationship between the two neighbouring turned worse. As per reports measured using distances, it appears that South Korea was the intended target for the missiles. These were North Korea's first known nuclear tests in almost two months. On July 1, North Korea conducted a test launch of two ballistic missiles in response to what it called "offensive and overwhelming" replies during a joint military drill by the US, South Korea, and Japan, which it perceives as a practice for an invasion.

The launches occurred two days after Kim Jong Un gave a speech on September 9 on the occasion of the founding anniversary.  The North Korean leader said that his country is now implementing a nuclear force construction policy to increase the number of nuclear weapons "exponentially", according to state-run media. He said North Korea must more thoroughly prepare its "nuclear capability and its readiness to use it properly at any given time in ensuring the security rights of the state". He further added, “A strong military presence is needed to face "the various threats posed by the United States and its followers". During his address, he also said that the country is facing a "grave threat" from what it sees as a US-led nuclear-based military bloc in the region.

Cho Chang-rae, South Korea's Deputy Defense Minister of Policy, on Tuesday, joined his American and Japanese counterparts in condemning North Korea for its recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems, tests and launches of multiple ballistic missiles. They also reiterated their commitment to strengthen trilateral cooperation in order to preserve regional peace.

The launches also came after North Korea launched hundreds of large balloons filled with trash toward South Korea over five consecutive days through Sunday, in a continuation of a campaign begun in May in retaliation for South Korean activists sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North using inflatables.

Since 2022, North Korea has significantly increased the tempo of its weapon testing, particularly in efforts to develop its capability to launch strikes on the US and South Korea. The US and South Korea, in turn, expanded the scale of their military exercises-the invasion rehearsals according to North Korea.

Last month, Kim still held off from missile tests or other provocative military actions while the United States and South Korea conducted large-scale summertime military exercises. North Korea has reacted to other major US-South Korean military training with its own weapons tests.

Image source: India TV