North Korea fires ‘around a dozen’ ballistic missiles into East Sea — SkimNews
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- North Korea fired around a dozen short-range ballistic missiles from Wonsan toward the East Sea on October 29, according to Seoul’s defense ministry.
- South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the launches and stated the military has increased surveillance and vigilance in response to potential follow-on activity.
- Japan Coast Guard reported an object appearing to be a North Korean ballistic missile had already fallen, urging ships in the area to remain alert.
- Seoul and Pyongyang remain technically at war, with recent tensions fueled by a landmine explosion in the DMZ that wounded three South Korean soldiers and was traced to North Korean emplacement over a year prior.
- Kim Yo Jong dismissed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s call for dialogue as 'the climax of the farce,' signaling Pyongyang’s rejection of reconciliation efforts.
- South Korea proposed military talks last week to clarify the border and restore communication channels, but North Korea has not responded as of October 29.
Why it matters: The scale and timing of North Korea’s missile launches—shortly after a landmine incident and a diplomatic overture—signal deliberate escalation. With Pyongyang rejecting talks and Seoul on high alert, the risk of miscalculation along the DMZ increases, especially as communication channels remain severed.
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