North Korea has not released related reports even after firing more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea. It has remained silent on all three ballistic missile launches conducted in roughly the past two weeks.
As of 6:30 a.m. on the 21st, North Korea's state media, including the Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun, had not reported news related to the previous day's missile launch.
North Korea typically disclosed the purpose and results of a ballistic missile launch through state media the following day. When Kim Jong-un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission, observed the site, it was often highlighted on a large scale. However, it has offered no particular explanation for the missile launches carried out on the 6th, the 12th, and the previous day.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched into the East Sea from the Pyongyang area at around 5 p.m. the previous day. The missiles flew about 300 km, and South Korean and U.S. military authorities are analyzing the specific specifications.
The military is leaning toward the possibility that North Korea fired the 600 mm super-large multiple rocket launcher (KN-25), a weapon for striking the South. North Korea has claimed that this weapons system can be fitted with the "Hwasan-31" tactical nuclear warhead.
This launch came eight days after North Korea fired a ballistic missile on the 12th and is the 12th this year. North Korea launched one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) from the Wonsan area on the 6th and fired another ballistic missile on the 12th.
Analysts say the recent series of missile launches is a reaction to the South Korea-U.S. combined exercise "Ulchi Freedom Shield" (UFS). UFS, which began on the 17th and was originally scheduled to run through the 27th, ends today after the training period was shortened from 11 days to five days under the direction of U.S. President Donald Trump.