South Korea’s presidential office strongly criticized North Korea’s firing of over 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday. They instructed the military to remain fully prepared during the ongoing joint exercises with the United States. An emergency security meeting, attended by officials from the Defence Ministry and military authorities, was called by the presidential office following the missile launches from the Pyongyang area towards the east of the Korean Peninsula. Describing the missile launch as a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions, South Korea urged North Korea to cease such actions immediately.

The South Korean officials assessed the security implications of the missile launches, reviewed the country’s response posture, and discussed necessary measures in light of the situation. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles traveled approximately 300 kilometers towards the sea.

The missile launches occurred a day after South Korea and the U.S. announced a reduction in their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, slated to end by Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump had directed the Pentagon to significantly reduce the exercise just before it commenced on Monday, citing a positive relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s stance on the U.S.’s actions in Iran.

Kim Yo Jong, the spokesperson for the North Korean regime and Kim Jong Un’s sister, dismissed Trump’s outreach on Wednesday. She stated that the nature of the drills remained provocative and aggressive, even though their scale had been reduced. Kim Yo Jong emphasized that personal relations between her brother and Trump were still good but refuted Trump’s claim of a response to his conversation request.

There was also a mention of the cost-sharing agreement between South Korea and the U.S., covering troop maintenance expenses from 2026 to 2030. While South Korea is set to contribute around 1.52 trillion won ($1.1 billion US) this year for American troop upkeep, Trump has continued to argue that South Korea’s contribution is inadequate.

Japan’s government and coast guard reported a ballistic missile launch by North Korea towards the sea on Thursday, with the projectile falling outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his visit to Seoul, encouraged South Korea to remain neutral between Beijing and Washington and advocated for a peaceful coexistence between South Korea and North Korea.