North Korea fires short-range missiles ahead of Trump return

14/1/2025 11:55

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, marking Pyongyang's latest show of force just days ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's return to office.



Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, the missiles travelled about 250 km after lifting off at around 09:30 am (0030 GMT) from Kanggye, Jagang Province, near the country's border with China.



The JCS said, "We strongly condemn the launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula," warning the North against "misjudging" the situation and vowing to "overwhelmingly respond" to any additional provocations.



South Korea's Acting President Choi Sang-mok also condemned the launch as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and said Seoul would sternly respond to North Korea's provocations.



Seoul's presidential office said its national security council held a meeting to review the situation and pledged an airtight posture.