The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched several types of short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday in what South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff described as a deliberate provocation.

Fired from the Wonsan region, the missiles traveled around 800 kilometers before falling into the East Sea, also referred to as the Sea of Japan, with the entire launch sequence spanning roughly 70 minutes beginning at 8:10 am local time (23:10 GMT Wednesday).

This marks the DPRK’s first missile test since March and comes shortly after Kim Jong Un oversaw a separate weapons test tied to the country’s newest warship.

South Korea’s military condemned the launches as what it claimed was a “clear act of provocation that poses a serious threat to peace and stability,” adding that the situation is being monitored closely through the combined South Korea–US defense posture to prevent misjudgments or escalation.

Officials believe the timing of the test was calculated, not only as a show of military readiness but also in the context of growing strategic alignment with Russia.

Kim Jong Un unveils new warship amid weapons push

The ballistic missile launch follows the unveiling of a 5,000-ton destroyer-class warship named Choe Hyon, which DPRK state media presented as a symbol of the country's advancing naval capabilities, with Kim Jong Un personally overseeing the testing of a new weapons system aboard the vessel.

The ship, which is expected to become operational early next year, is reportedly outfitted with what state media described as “some of the most powerful weapons.” Analysts suggest the warship may be intended to carry short-range tactical nuclear missiles in the future, though the DPRK has not yet demonstrated the technical capacity to miniaturize its nuclear arsenal for maritime deployment.

Meanwhile, ties between the DPRK and Russia appear to be deepening, as both nations recently began constructing their first road bridge across the shared border. 

Commenting on the launch, Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of DPRK Studies in Seoul, told AFP that the timing may have been chosen to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations and reflect Pyongyang’s alignment with Moscow’s geopolitical messaging.

Similarly, DPRK affairs expert Ahn Chan-il said that the test might have served as a trial run for future weapons transfers to Russia, according to AFP.