North Korea Launches More Than 10 Short-Range Missiles, South Korea Says

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected more than 10 short-range ballistic missile launches from the Wonsan area at about 12:30 local time on October 29. The missiles traveled toward the Sea of Japan, according to the JCS.

Key details

• The JCS reported a travel distance of about 250 kilometers (155 miles).
• Japan’s Ministry of Defense said an object may have been a ballistic missile and estimated it fell near the Korean Peninsula’s east coast.
• Japan’s ministry said the object was not confirmed to have entered Japanese territory or its exclusive economic zone.
• Japan’s ministry reported no damage to nearby aircraft or ships at the time of its notice.
• South Korea’s National Security Office said the launches violated UN Security Council resolutions and called on North Korea to stop.
• South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense proposed military talks on October 23, including discussions about the Military Demarcation Line and military communications.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles traveled about 250 kilometers.

Why it matters

The reported launches involved more than 10 missiles directed toward waters east of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea and the United States were analyzing their specifications, according to the JCS notice described in the reporting.

What happens next

South Korean and US authorities are analyzing the launches, while South Korea has proposed military talks covering border issues and communications. What developments will shape dialogue on the Korean Peninsula?