South Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile into the Yellow Sea on Thursday in a live-fire military exercise.
Counter North Korean Provocations
This is a response to a recent series of missile launches from North Korea, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
This display of military capability followed North Korea’s recent test of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which Pyongyang claims to be the most advanced in its arsenal, according to Digi24.
The live-fire drill by South Korea’s military included a Hyunmoo ballistic missile and was aimed at signaling firm resolve against potential threats from the North.
"With this live-fire exercise, our military demonstrated its strong commitment to counter any North Korean provocations," the JCS stated.
Longstanding Defensive Strategy
The timing of the exercise was significant, as North Korea had conducted a second launch of short-range missiles on Tuesday, just hours before the U.S. presidential election.
South Korea’s missile drills are part of a longstanding defensive strategy developed since the 1970s to counter potential threats from North Korea, which has an active nuclear weapons program.
In a broader show of military coordination, South Korea, the United States, and Japan held joint air exercises on Sunday, which included a U.S. heavy bomber.
This cooperation underscores the United States’ ongoing commitment to South Korea’s defense, with roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the country as a safeguard against North Korean aggression.
Earlier in October, South Korea also revealed its largest ballistic missile to date, the Hyunmoo-5, designed to target fortified underground structures, further strengthening its defense posture in the region.
