DPRK launched multiple cruise missiles toward the Sea of Japan in the early hours of Saturday, as per South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Both South Korea and the United States are currently analyzing the launches, which occurred around 4:00 am local time, to gather information about the missiles and other pertinent details.

This recent launch took place just three days after DPRK fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan. Prior to that, on July 12, DPRK had carried out another missile launch, featuring the new-type Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile. The Hwasong-18 was estimated to have flown over 1,000 kilometers at a maximum altitude of over 6,000 kilometers on a lofted trajectory.

Tensions escalated further when the South Korean Defense Ministry issued a stern warning to Pyongyang, stating that any nuclear attack on Seoul would lead to the end of the DPRK. This warning came in response to DPRK's assertion that the deployment of US nuclear assets in the region could be a reason to use nuclear arms.

Adding to the tension, DPRK Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam criticized the presence of a US nuclear ballistic missile submarine, the USS Kentucky, in South Korea. The submarine's port arrival in Busan had taken place earlier in the week, prompting DPRK to suggest that such a deployment could be seen as a sufficient basis for the use of nuclear arms for self-defense.

Amid the escalating situation, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden met during the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting and reaffirmed their commitment to "deterring" DPRK.

Stranded US soldier

The United States has officially requested that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) returns Private Travis King, a US soldier who defected to Pyongyang, the US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

"We have relayed messages to the DPRK that Private King crossed on his own and we want him returned safely," Miller said. The spokesperson also said Washington asked for information on the Private's health. 

This comes after news broke out on Wednesday that a US soldier crossed the demarcation line to the DPRK. Private Travis King "willfully and without authorization" crossed over during a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area, which is a demilitarized zone that has separated Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

In a statement, US Forces Korea spokesperson Col. Isaac Taylor said, “We believe he is currently in [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] custody and are working with our [Korean People’s Army] counterparts to resolve this incident."

King, a cavalry scout who joined the military in January 2021, was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, at the time of his duty in South Korea, per Army spokesperson Bryce Dubee.

King is the first US soldier to cross into the DPRK since 1982. His mother, Claudine Gates, expressed to ABC News that she was "shocked" to hear the news.

"I can’t see Travis doing anything like that," she said, explaining that she spoke to her son several days ago, and he told her that he’d be returning to his base in Fort Bliss.

Read more: The US soldier that crossed to the DPRK