North Korea fires dozen missiles after South proposes talks — SkimNews
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- North Korea fired around a dozen short-range ballistic missiles from Wonsan toward the East Sea on October 29, with each flying approximately 250km, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- South Korea’s military detected the launches and is analyzing the missiles’ specifications with the United States, while increasing surveillance for potential follow-up actions by Pyongyang.
- Japan Coast Guard issued a maritime alert urging ships in the area to remain vigilant following the missile launches off North Korea’s east coast.
- Seoul’s National Security Office condemned the launches as violations of UN Security Council resolutions, calling them serious acts that worsen regional stability.
- Kim Yo Jong announced days before the launch that North Korea would reactivate border loudspeakers and place new countermeasures on alert, framing the moves as responses to South Korean provocations.
- South Korea proposed military talks with North Korea to clarify the border and restore communication channels, but Pyongyang has not responded as of October 29.
Why it matters: The scale and timing of North Korea’s missile launches—shortly after South Korea’s overture for dialogue—signal a deliberate rejection of de-escalation, raising the risk of miscalculation along the DMZ. With 3,000+ mines already planted since 2024 and new countermeasures on alert, the window for diplomatic engagement is narrowing fast.
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