North Korea fired more than 10 ballistic missiles into the East Sea on the 14th. The South Korean military assesses them as 600 mm super-large multiple rocket launchers. The launch is analyzed as a show of force against the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise "Freedom Shield (FS)."
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, "At about 1:20 p.m. today, our military detected more than 10 ballistic missiles launched into the East Sea from around Sunan, North Korea," adding, "The missiles flew about 350 km, and South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis of the exact specifications."
It added, "The South Korea-U.S. intelligence authorities tracked the launch movements and closely shared related information with the United States and Japan," and said, "Under a firm South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, we are closely watching North Korea's various movements and maintaining the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation."
South Korea-U.S. intelligence authorities are said to assess that the missiles North Korea launched that day were 600 mm super-large multiple rocket launchers (KN-25). The 600 mm super-large multiple rocket launcher is a weapons system capable of striking key facilities in the South. Previously, North Korea has claimed that the missile can be equipped with the "Hwasan-31" tactical nuclear warhead.
It is the third time this year that North Korea has launched ballistic missiles. North Korea also launched missiles into the East Sea on Jan. 4 and on the 27th of the same month. The launch that day came 47 days after the previous launch. However, firing more than 10 rounds simultaneously is unusual.
The provocation appears to be a protest against the South Korea-U.S. joint "Freedom Shield" exercise. The two countries have been conducting the joint drill since September and through the 19th.
While conducting the FS exercise, a theater-level joint drill for contingencies, this time the field training exercise (FTX) during the exercise period was reduced to less than half of last year's, but North Korea is still protesting, calling it a "rehearsal for invading the North."
Meanwhile, the launch came less than a day after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to talk with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean Chairperson of the State Affairs Commission.
Earlier, on the 13th (local time), President Trump met Kim Min-seok, the prime minister, who visited the White House, and said he was "maintaining a good relationship" with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean Chairperson of the State Affairs Commission, and, asking Kim for his opinion, noted he was curious whether "Chairperson Kim wants dialogue with the United States and with me."