N. Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles as Kim visits Russia

The South Korean military reported on Wednesday that North Korea had launched two short-range ballistic missiles while its leader, Kim Jong Un, was in Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Korea fires two missiles: The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that South Korea has discovered “two short-range ballistic missiles fired by North Korea from the Sunan area towards the East Sea at approximately 11:43 to 11:53 today.” The East Sea is another name for the Sea of Japan.

In anticipation for additional launches, “our military has increased surveillance and vigilance, while maintaining full readiness by closely cooperating with the US.”

Two ballistic missiles, according to the Japanese coast guard, were fired.

Hirokazu Matsuno, the senior government spokesperson for Japan, told reporters that the missiles “appear to have fallen outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, but we are analizing details.”

Kim will meet with Putin on Wednesday for discussions centred on defence cooperation when he is in Russia with his top military officers.

Developments in North Korea’s Arms Acquisition and Regional Impact

According to observers, although Russia is eager to acquire North Korea’s stockpile of artillery rounds, likely for use in the Ukraine, Pyongyang is seeking assistance in modernising its Soviet-era weapons, particularly for its air force and navy.

“Interesting: a launch without Kim Jong Un present in the nation. An expert from the US named Ankit Panda wrote on X, “A first.

“He wrote that starting in 2019, KJU stopped attending every single publicly announced launch (and occasionally deliberately obscured his presence).”

There have been launches without Kim before, but none with Kim present.

This year, North Korea has carried out a number of prohibited weapons tests, the most recent of which took place on August 30 and involved two short-range ballistic missiles.

Additionally, it failed last month in its second effort to launch a spy satellite into orbit.

In response, South Korea and the US have increased defense cooperation, conducting joint exercises and naval drills with Japan.

After failed attempts to discuss Pyongyang’s disarmament, relations between the two Koreas are at their worst point in years, and diplomacy has come to a standstill.