North Korea fires around 10 ballistic missiles into sea — SkimNews
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- North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast at around 12:30 p.m. local time (0330 GMT) on Thursday, launching them from an area near Wonsan, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
- South Korea said it was strengthening surveillance and maintaining readiness for additional launches while closely sharing information with the United States and Japan.
- Japan's Defense Ministry said the missiles had fallen outside the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
- North Korea has conducted missile tests on more than 10 occasions this year, most recently launching several short-range ballistic missiles on October 12 — a day after Trump suggested he might meet Kim Jong Un this year, with his overtures to Pyongyang raising concerns that South Korea could be sidelined in potential nuclear negotiations.
- Demilitarized Zone landmines wounded three South Korean soldiers on September 21, and a joint investigation by South Korea and the United Nations concluded earlier this month that North Korea planted the landmines south of the military demarcation line more than a year ago; Pyongyang denied responsibility and warned of retaliation if provoked.
- Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, condemned South Korean demands for an apology as "despicable" and rejected Seoul's offer of medical equipment.
- South Korea proposed talks to clarify the border and prevent accidental military clashes after North Korea announced plans last week to resume propaganda broadcasts along the border and deploy new weapons systems; Pyongyang has yet to respond.
Why it matters: Three South Korean soldiers were wounded by DMZ landmines on September 21, and Seoul's proposed border talks — meant to prevent accidental military clashes — still have no Pyongyang response. South Korea's military is on alert for additional launches, coordinating with the United States and Japan.
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