North Korea Launches Short-Range Missiles Amid Deepening Ties with Russia

North Korea on Thursday fired various types of short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea, South Korea’s military said, adding to a series of military displays that have heightened tensions in the region. South Korean military officials were analyzing whether the tests were linked to North Korea’s weapons exports to Russia during its ongoing war in Ukraine.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said multiple missiles were launched from the area around the eastern port city of Wonsan between 8:10 and 9:20 a.m., with the farthest traveling about 800 kilometers (497 miles). The exact number of missiles detected has not yet been confirmed.

Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs, said in a briefing that the North Korean launches were possibly intended to test the performance of weapons it plans to export, as the country continues to send military equipment and troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Lee added that the tests likely involved a short-range ballistic missile system launched from vehicles—possibly modeled after Russia’s Iskander missile—and large-caliber rocket artillery systems. Experts say these systems blur the line between traditional artillery and ballistic weapons due to their self-propulsion and guided flight.

The Joint Chiefs said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities detected the launch preparations in advance and tracked the missiles after launch. They stated that launch information was shared with Japan and denounced the launches as a “clear act of provocation” that threatens regional peace and stability.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that none of the missiles reached Japan’s exclusive economic zone and there was no damage to vessels or aircraft. He said Japan “sternly protested and strongly condemned” the launches through the North Korean embassy in Beijing.

It was North Korea’s first known ballistic missile activity since March 10, when it fired several missiles just hours after U.S. and South Korean troops began their annual combined military exercise. This marks the country’s sixth launch event of the year.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as Kim Jong Un accelerates the development of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs while providing military support to Russia. North Korean state media reported on Wednesday that Kim had urged munition workers to increase production of artillery shells.

Last month, North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to Russia, aiding in the recapture of parts of the Kursk region following a surprise Ukrainian incursion. Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the North’s support and thanked Kim’s regime for its sacrifices.

Recent South Korean intelligence assessments estimate that North Korea has sent approximately 15,000 soldiers to Russia, with around 5,000 reportedly killed or injured. Analysts say the North’s official acknowledgment of its role in the war may be aimed at securing long-term military cooperation with Moscow and potential compensation, including advanced technology that could boost Kim’s nuclear ambitions.