North Korea launches rocket salvo amid political shift in Seoul

Seoul: South Korea’s military stated on Wednesday that North Korea fired 10 artillery shells from a multiple rocket launcher system earlier in the week. According to an official from Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the rockets were launched on Tuesday from the western part of the Korean peninsula towards the Yellow Sea.

The volley formed part of North Korea’s routine wintertime military exercises, as reported by Yonhap News Agency, which cited military officials. North Korea has not issued any public comment on the launch.

The firing coincided with the opening of a key meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s central committee, led by Kim Jong Un. The session is expected to discuss major policy matters and preparations for an upcoming party congress, which would be the country’s first in four years.

The incident also followed recent remarks by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who said last week that an apology to the North was warranted over an alleged decision by his predecessor to send drones and propaganda leaflets across the border. Pyongyang has not responded to Lee’s outreach, despite his stated intention to repair strained inter-Korean relations.

North Korea previously fired multiple artillery rockets last month, just hours before US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the inter-Korean border. Similar launches also took place minutes before President Lee met Chinese President Xi Jinping in November.
(With AP inputs)