Breaking News! South Korean Military: North Korea Fired Over 10 Ballistic Missiles! Japan: No Damage Reports Received at Present

According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 14th local time, North Korea launched more than 10 ballistic missiles around 13:20 in the Sunan area of Pyongyang toward the eastern waters of the Korean Peninsula.

Japanese Defense Minister Kono Jinjirō stated that the objects launched by North Korea on that day fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, and no damage reports have been received so far.

North Korea has not responded to this matter yet.

South Korea and the United States held joint military exercises, condemned by North Korea

According to Yonhap News Agency, citing South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise codenamed “Freedom Shield” began on the 9th. The exercise will continue until the 19th of this month, involving about 18,000 troops, roughly the same scale as last year. During the exercise, the U.S. and South Korea will conduct 22 field mobility training sessions, less than half of the 51 sessions held during the same period last year.

The report states that North Korea has always been sensitive to U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, labeling them as “invasion exercises,” and may also demonstrate military strength through missile launches or other means.

On the 10th, Kim Yo-jong, Minister of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, issued a statement condemning the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises. Kim Yo-jong said that since the 9th, the hostile countries have fully launched large-scale joint exercises called “Freedom Shield,” once again exposing their hostility and anti-North Korea policies.

Kim Yo-jong stated that the combined forces of South Korea and the U.S., including over 18,000 South Korean soldiers, are participating in a ten-day or longer exercise across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains in South Korea. This exercise is a provocation and rehearsal for a hostile invasion war aimed at confronting North Korea, not a “military game.”

Kim Yo-jong emphasized that recent global geopolitical crises and complex international events prove that all military actions by hostile forces in North Korea’s vicinity are indistinguishable between defense, attack, exercises, and actual combat. Therefore, an overwhelming, preemptive, and powerful offensive must be used to suppress the enemy.

She also warned that military demonstrations near North Korea’s sovereignty and security areas could lead to unimaginable and terrible consequences. She reaffirmed that North Korea’s security is inviolable and that the country is committed to thoroughly safeguarding the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the region.

U.S. THAAD system relocated to the Middle East

South Korea opposes but to no avail

According to CCTV News, on the 11th local time, South Korea reported that evidence shows all six THAAD missile launchers deployed at the Seongju base in North Gyeongsang Province have been moved out. It is unclear whether all six launchers have been transferred to the Middle East.

Xinhua News Agency, citing South Korea’s Dong-A Ilbo on March 11, reported that the U.S. military in South Korea has recently begun preparing to transfer some of the THAAD interceptors to the Middle East.

The report quoted an unnamed South Korean government official saying that the U.S. military has recently transferred some interceptors from the Seongju THAAD base. One source said the interceptors have been moved to Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, which is also home to the Patriot missile system. Another source indicated that the U.S. military is preparing to transfer interceptors, excluding the THAAD launchers, to the Middle East.

According to Yonhap News Agency, if the redeployment results in the permanent withdrawal of some personnel and equipment, it generally requires consultation between South Korea and the U.S.; if it is a temporary transfer, the U.S. only needs to notify South Korea.

The Washington Post reported on the 9th that the U.S. is moving some of its THAAD missile systems deployed in South Korea to the Middle East. Citing two U.S. government officials, the report said that besides THAAD, the U.S. military is also calling up Patriot interceptors from the so-called Indo-Pacific region and other areas.

According to Cheong Wa Dae, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stated during a National Security Council meeting on the 10th that the South Korean government opposes the U.S. military’s call-up of some air defense weapons, but the reality is that Seoul’s opinions are difficult to implement.