North Korea conducted a test of several short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, according to military officials in Seoul. The launch occurred just hours after President Trump announced his intention to hold further meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year.
The missile activity follows a decision by the U.S. president to scale back the joint Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises between the United States and South Korea. These drills, which are scheduled to conclude on Friday, were shortened at the request of the U.S. side. The Pentagon stated that the reduction in the exercises would not degrade U.S. training objectives, though the drills are intended to prepare for potential aggression from the North.
President Trump justified the decision to curtail the war games by citing his “very good relationship with” Kim. He characterized the annual military exercises as a “totally inappropriate and hostile signal” toward Pyongyang. Additionally, the president noted that South Korea’s lack of assistance in the ongoing war with Iran influenced his decision. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a rapport with Kim, while claiming that North Korea currently possesses 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons.
There appears to be a discrepancy regarding the North’s nuclear capabilities. While the president cited a figure of 57 weapons, officials in Seoul estimated that North Korea holds between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, though they could not explain the difference between their assessment and the president’s.
An official from Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff informed the AFP that approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles were fired from the vicinity of Pyongyang. Japan’s prime minister’s office also confirmed via social media that a suspected ballistic missile launched by the North had already fallen.
The shift in U.S. policy has caused concern among regional allies, leading to speculation that the administration is prioritizing a foreign policy success while the conflict in Iran continues. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North Korean leader, recently stated that her brother retains “good memories and feelings” regarding Mr. Trump, describing their relationship as “excellent,” though she noted she was unaware of any active communication between them.
During his first term, Mr. Trump held three meetings with Kim. Despite his positive rhetoric, those summits failed to secure binding commitments to halt the North’s nuclear program, which has continued to advance. South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back reiterated that Seoul remains opposed to recognizing the North as a nuclear-weapon state, a long-standing goal for Kim. When asked if Washington had abandoned the goal of denuclearization, Ahn stated he did not believe so.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who has advocated for increased domestic defense capabilities to lessen reliance on the United States, expressed his commitment to supporting the president’s diplomatic efforts. The United States maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which concluded with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty. The report also notes that the latest launches by the nuclear-armed North came after Mr. The report also notes that adding that Pyongyang now had 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons, the president said it was important to “get along” with Kim. The report also notes that does an emboldened Kim Jong Un want “to confront the U.S.”. The report also notes that the Pentagon said the reduced drills would cause “no degradation to U.S. The report also notes that michael Cohen, Trump’s fixer-turned-nemesis, says he’ll interview former boss. The report also notes that discord suspends livestreams in Brazil amid backlash over girl’s suicide. The report also notes that fire and Fury 2.0: What Trump’s North Korea Policy Tells Us About Iran.
Source: CBS News
