US President Donald Trump (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un talk as they leave the summit venue in Singapore in June 2018. [Reuters]
US President Donald Trump (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un talk as they leave the summit venue in Singapore in June 2018. [Reuters]

North Korea fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, just one day after US President Donald Trump said he would meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before the end of the year. The US military assessed the launches as posing no immediate threat to the American mainland or its allies, but reaffirmed its commitment to defending the United States and its alliance partners.

US Indo-Pacific Command posted a statement on its website Thursday saying it was "aware of the recent missile launches and is consulting closely with allies and partners."

"Current assessment indicates these events do not pose an immediate threat to US personnel, territory, or our allies," the command added. "The United States remains committed to the defense of the US homeland and our allies in the region."

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea at around 5 p.m. Thursday Korean Standard Time.

South Korean military authorities are leaning toward the assessment that the projectiles were 600-millimeter super-large multiple rocket launchers, designated KN-25, and are analyzing their precise specifications. North Korea has claimed the KN-25 can be fitted with the "Hwasan-31" tactical nuclear warhead, and the weapon is assessed to have been developed for strikes against South Korea.

The launches came just eight days after North Korea's previous ballistic missile firing on Aug. 12.

The timing drew particular attention as the launches followed a series of conciliatory gestures from Trump toward Pyongyang.

On Sunday, Trump ordered a significant reduction in the scale of the annual US-South Korea joint military exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), a move widely interpreted as a signal to North Korea that the drills were "not threatening" and as a way to keep the door open for talks with Kim.

Then on Wednesday, Trump went further, saying he would meet Kim "this year" — a more concrete expression of his intent to restart leader-level dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.

Despite those overtures, North Korea launched ballistic missiles again just one day later. Analysts say the launches reflect Pyongyang's frustration that US-South Korea joint exercises are continuing and suggest North Korea is pressing for a complete halt to the drills.

The launches also drew notice for occurring immediately after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded his visit to South Korea and departed.

Washington has for now assessed the threat level of the latest launches as low while drawing a firm line on its commitment to alliance defense. With Trump actively seeking to restart US-North Korea dialogue even as Pyongyang continues its missile provocations, it remains to be seen whether Washington will maintain its conciliatory posture toward the North.


sjy@heraldcorp.com