European Union condemns North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile

The European Union condemned on Monday the launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea, describing it as a new violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and a threat to regional and international security. In a statement issued by its spokesperson, the EU expressed its full solidarity with its partners in the region, particularly South Korea and Japan. It called on North Korea to halt these unlawful acts, which risk escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, comply with its international obligations, and re-engage in a meaningful diplomatic process, emphasizing that this remains the only path to achieving lasting peace and security.

State media reported on Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the missile launch alongside his daughter. Pyongyang stated that the missile uses artificial intelligence. Kim Yo-jong, the leader’s sister, had previously announced that the missile launched on Saturday “can alter its flight path at low altitude” and “has integrated artificial intelligence technology,” adding that there is “no room” to evade it, without providing further details.

The South Korean military detected the launch from an area near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan in the early hours of Saturday, noting that the missile traveled more than 700 kilometers. According to a statement released in English by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said after overseeing the launch that “through the test launch, strategic rocket forces demonstrated their professional qualifications and readiness to carry out a full-scale counterattack.” He added, “We must continue our responsible efforts tirelessly to constantly and repeatedly make the enemy aware of the reliability and lethality of our strategic attack means.”

The South Korean military refuted Kim’s claims that the missile was impossible to intercept, stating that it could have been shot down. A statement from South Korea’s Ministry of Defense said, “South Korea and the United States maintain a firm joint defensive posture and consider that the missile recently launched by North Korea was actually within the detection and interception capabilities of the defense systems operated by the allies.” The statement urged North Korea to “immediately cease actions that could escalate tensions,” noting that the launch violated UN Security Council resolutions.

The KCNA report included the coordinates of the missile’s impact site. Analysts viewed these unusual details as reflecting Pyongyang’s “confidence.” Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification told Agence France-Presse that “the North revealed coordinates… accurate to within 30 centimeters,” reflecting “Kim’s stance of not hiding anything and showing confidence.”

Images released by the North Korean agency showed a missile launching into the sky amid a blaze of orange flames. Another photo showed Kim smiling, with his daughter Kim Ju-ae beside him and his wife Ri Sol-ju clapping in celebration.