North Korea launches ballistic missiles hours after Trump announces meeting with Kim - Sarmad
South Korea said on Thursday that it had detected North Korea launching approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles were launched on Thursday, while Japan’s Ministry of Defense assessed that they were ballistic missiles.
The launch came hours after Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that he would indeed meet Kim in 2026, answering “yes, I will” when asked about the prospect. Observers anticipate the meeting could take place in November on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China.
In recent days, Trump has unexpectedly focused on relations with North Korea, criticizing joint military exercises with Seoul as “very insulting to someone who has behaved very well during my term.”
On Sunday, Trump ordered a reduction in the annual “Ulchi Freedom Shield” exercises, confirming on Wednesday that they would conclude on Friday instead of August 27, with the second phase canceled, while maintaining the core objectives of readiness and training.
Trump also made an unusual formal assessment of Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal, stating it possesses “57 nuclear weapons,” adding that this would not have happened if he were not president, while reaffirming his “very good” relationship with Kim Jong Un.
For her part, Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader’s sister, said on Wednesday that she was unaware of any communication between her brother and Trump, adding: “This may be the only foreign policy matter of our supreme authorities that I am not aware of.”
Nevertheless, she confirmed that the relationship between the two men remains “excellent,” but dismissed the decision to scale back the exercises as “not worth commenting on.”
North Korea views the “Ulchi Freedom Shield” exercises as a rehearsal for invading its territory and has often responded by launching missiles in coordination with their conduct.
The exercises were originally scheduled in two phases (defensive and offensive) until August 27, but the second phase was canceled following a U.S. proposal.
Trump’s criticism of the exercises has raised concerns among Asian allies. Japan has emphasized that trilateral cooperation is “vital” for regional security.
The United States maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the Korean War (1950–1953), which ended in an armistice.
