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In a show of military force, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Wednesday, marking its second missile test in as many days. This aggressive action coincided with a senior North Korean official’s harsh criticism of South Korea’s aspirations for improved diplomatic ties, according to reports from South Korea’s military.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that multiple missiles were fired from the Wonsan region along North Korea’s eastern coast on Wednesday morning. These missiles traveled approximately 240 kilometers (or 150 miles) in the direction of the country’s eastern waters. Later in the day, an additional missile was launched, covering more than 700 kilometers (around 435 miles) before landing off North Korea’s east coast.
The South Korean military assured that it remains vigilant and prepared to counter any provocations from the North, bolstered by a robust military alliance with the United States. This development follows the detection of another unidentified projectile launched from North Korea’s capital region on Tuesday.
According to South Korean media, this projectile, which is also suspected to be a ballistic missile, vanished from military radars after demonstrating an unusual pattern during its initial flight stage, suggesting that the launch may have been unsuccessful.
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People at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on April 8, 2026, watch as the news shows file imagery of North Korea’s missile launch. The missile tests come as North Korea continues weapons development and strengthens ties with Russia and China. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The back-to-back launches came after North Korea made it clear that it has no intention of improving ties with South Korea, whose liberal government has steadfastly expressed its hopes to restore long-dormant dialogue.
On Tuesday night, Jang Kum Chol, first vice minister at Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry, said South Korea would always remain North Korea’s “most hostile enemy state.” He derided South Korea as “world-startling fools” engaged in wishful thinking over a recent statement by Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
After South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over alleged civilian drone flights into North Korea, Kim Yo Jong late Monday praised him for what she called honesty and courage, but reiterated a threat to retaliate if such flights recur. South Korean officials responded by describing Kim Yo Jong’s statement as meaningful progress in relations.
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Kim Jong Un delivers a speech in Pyongyang, North Korea, on February 15, 2026. North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after rejecting South Korea’s overtures for improved relations. (KCNA VIA KNS / AFP via Getty Images)
Jang said her statement was intended as a warning. He cited Kim Yo Jong as calling South Korea “the dogs affected by mange that blindly bark to the tune of neighboring dogs” as she criticized it for recently co-sponsoring a U.N. resolution on the North’s purported human rights violations.
North Korea has refused to return to talks with South Korea and the U.S. and pushed to expand its nuclear arsenal since Kim Jong Un’s diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. North Korea has instead sought to strengthen ties with Russia, China and other countries embroiled in confrontations with the U.S. Last September, Kim Jong Un traveled to Beijing to attend a military parade alongside other foreign leaders and held his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.
North Korea’s state media said Wednesday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit North Korea on Thursday for a two-day trip.
NORTH KOREA TESTS SOLID-FUEL MISSILE ENGINE AS KIM BOOSTS THREAT TO US MAINLAND
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People walk down the street in Pyongyang on March 23, 2026. Pyongyang escalated tensions with back-to-back missile tests on April 8, 2026, while issuing harsh rhetoric against Seoul’s diplomatic efforts. (KIM Won Jin / AFP via Getty Images)
Earlier this week, North Korea said Kim Jong Un had observed a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for weapons and called it a significant development boosting his country’s strategic military arsenal.
Missiles with built-in solid propellants are easier to move and conceal their launches than liquid-fuel weapons, which in general must be fueled before liftoff and cannot last long.
South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers Monday the engine test was likely related to an effort to build a more powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that can carry multiple nuclear warheads, according to lawmakers who attended the meeting.
Experts say North Korea wants multi-warhead missiles to penetrate U.S. missile defenses, but they doubt Pyongyang has mastered the technology needed to acquire such a weapon.