North Korea launches multiple short-range missiles in second provocation of 2025

North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on January 14, marking its second provocation of the year, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). 

The launch occurred around 9:30 a.m. (local time) from the Ganggye area in North Korea's Jagang Province, with the missiles travelling approximately 250 kilometres before splashing into the sea. The exact number of missiles fired was not specified, Caliber.Az reports, citing a South Korean media source.

The short-range missiles fired are seen as targeting South Korea, given their flight distance. Last year, North Korea also launched similar missiles just hours before the U.S. presidential election on November 5, escalating regional tensions.

The JCS condemned the launch as a "blatant" provocation, stressing the threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean military has ramped up monitoring and vigilance in response, closely coordinating with the U.S. and Japan to ensure a unified response. The military also noted the detection of transporter erector launchers near the site, suggesting the possibility of further missile tests.

North Korea had previously declared its intention to adopt a "toughest" counteraction strategy against the United States, particularly criticizing the growing military cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. In a year-end speech, the North described the alliance as a "military bloc for aggression."

South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-mok strongly condemned the missile launch, describing it as a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Choi pledged a firm response, emphasizing the strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance in addressing the ongoing provocations.

Before this launch, North Korea conducted a successful test of a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) on January 6. The missile, launched from the outskirts of Pyongyang, flew about 1,500 kilometres at 12 times the speed of sound, reaching an altitude of nearly 100 kilometres before landing in waters off the east coast. Leader Kim Jong Un stated that the missile's development aims to counter perceived security threats. The test coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Seoul, raising concerns about North Korea's alignment with Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine. 

By Khagan Isayev