North Korea Launches Short-Range Missiles, Possibly Testing Arms for Export

North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its eastern coast, in what South Korean authorities say may have been a test of weapons intended for export, Al Jazeera reports.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the missiles were launched on Thursday morning from an area near the eastern port city of Wonsan. The launches took place between 8:10 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. local time and the missiles flew up to 800 kilometers (approximately 500 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan.

This marks the fourth round of ballistic missile tests by North Korea in 2025, following earlier launches in January and March involving various missile types.

“Our military, under the strong South Korea-US combined defense posture, is closely monitoring various North Korean activities to prevent any misjudgment,” the JCS said in a statement.

JCS spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said in a briefing that the tests may have been conducted to evaluate the “performance or flight stability” of missiles destined for export. He did not name any specific buyer nations, though South Korea’s intelligence services have previously linked North Korea to military support for Russia in the war in Ukraine.

According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Pyongyang has sent missiles, artillery, and approximately 15,000 soldiers to Russia. Last month, North Korea publicly acknowledged its deployment for the first time, with leader Kim Jong Un expressing support for Russian military operations and vowing to fight alongside Moscow against what he described as Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers.

In 2024, North Korea and Russia signed a mutual defense treaty during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, solidifying their military cooperation.

The missile launches on Thursday drew criticism from Japan as well. Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen said Tokyo had lodged a formal protest with Pyongyang in response to the tests.