North Korea fires missiles after ridiculing South’s hopes for better ties

North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Wednesday, marking the second consecutive day of missile tests amid heightened tensions with South Korea, according to South Korean military officials.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that several missiles were fired from North Korea’s eastern coastal Wonsan area early Wednesday, traveling approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) each. An additional ballistic missile launched later in the day flew more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) off the east coast.

These launches follow an apparent failed missile test on Tuesday when South Korean military radars lost track of an unidentified projectile fired from Pyongyang’s capital region after it showed abnormal behavior during its initial launch stage.

The missile tests coincide with increasingly hostile rhetoric from North Korean officials. On Tuesday night, Jang Kum Chol, first vice minister at North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, described South Korea as the country’s “most hostile enemy state” and derided South Korean officials as “world-startling fools.”

Jang’s comments were specifically aimed at South Korean officials who had interpreted a recent statement by Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as a positive diplomatic signal. After South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over alleged civilian drone flights into North Korean territory, Kim Yo Jong had responded with what appeared to be measured praise for his “honesty and courage,” while still threatening retaliation for future incursions.

According to Jang, Kim Yo Jong’s statement was intended as a warning, not an olive branch. He quoted her describing South Koreans as “dogs affected by mange that blindly bark to the tune of neighboring dogs,” referring to South Korea’s recent co-sponsorship of a UN resolution condemning North Korea’s human rights record.

North Korea has consistently rebuffed South Korea’s attempts to restore dialogue since the collapse of Kim Jong Un’s diplomacy with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. Instead, Pyongyang has focused on expanding its nuclear arsenal and strengthening ties with countries at odds with the United States, particularly Russia and China.

In a sign of these deepening international relationships, North Korean state media announced that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit North Korea on Thursday for a two-day trip. This visit follows Kim Jong Un’s travel to Beijing last September, where he attended a military parade alongside other foreign leaders and held his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.

The missile launches also come just days after North Korea reported that Kim Jong Un had personally observed a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for weapons. North Korean state media described this test as a significant advancement for the country’s strategic military capabilities.

Military experts note that solid-fuel missiles offer significant tactical advantages over liquid-fuel weapons, as they are easier to transport, can be launched with minimal preparation time, and maintain operational readiness for longer periods.

According to South Korean intelligence briefings to lawmakers, the engine test was likely part of North Korea’s efforts to develop a more powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. Such technology would potentially enable North Korean missiles to penetrate U.S. missile defense systems more effectively.

However, many defense analysts remain skeptical about whether North Korea has fully mastered the complex technologies required for reliable multiple-warhead missiles.

South Korea’s military stated it maintains a high level of readiness to respond to any provocations, backed by its solid military alliance with the United States.