North Korea Launches Ten Missiles After Border Tensions Spike

North Korea fired a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Thursday, South Korea’s military announced. The launches occurred just days after the North threatened to resume front-line propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts and position new weapons along the tense border with the South.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported detecting approximately 10 missiles launched from Wonsan, a coastal town in the North’s east. The agency stated each projectile traveled about 250 kilometers, or 155 miles. Japanese Defense Ministry officials also confirmed the detection of a suspected ballistic missile launch.

The latest volley follows a surge in animosity between the two Koreas. Last month, land mine blasts at the border injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul accused Pyongyang of planting the mines south of the military demarcation line and demanded an apology, a claim North Korea has denied. Pyongyang warned of retaliation if provoked and last week announced it would restart propaganda broadcasts to protest what it described as repeated warning shots from South Korean troops.

South Korea proposed talks to clarify border boundaries and prevent accidental clashes, but North Korea has not responded. Earlier this week, Associated Press journalists observed North Korean artillery guns positioned on the opposite side of the border in a South Korean border town. These weapons were not visible in previous observations.

In recent years, the North has increased the placement of mines, barbed-wire fences, and other defensive structures along the shared border. This expansion aligns with Kim Jong Un’s policy of severing ties with the South. Seoul maintains that North Korean troops have repeatedly violated the border during these construction efforts, prompting South Korean military warning shots. Pyongyang rejects the allegation of border breaches.

Thursday’s test adds to a series of recent weapons demonstrations, including submarine-launched cruise missiles and hypersonic missiles. Analysts suggest the North aims to pressure the United States into offering larger concessions as President Donald Trump seeks to restore diplomatic channels with Kim. The missile tests also follow Kim’s surprise weekend visit to China, his primary ally and economic partner.

Kim traveled to the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday via a newly opened bridge. He paid respects at a memorial honoring China’s support during the 1950-53 Korean War. This marks his sixth trip to China since assuming leadership in late 2011. At the site, Kim described the friendship with China as