Seoul reports that North Korea has launched short-range ballistic missiles.

On May 8, 2025, individuals gathered around a large television screen in South Korea, which displayed footage of North Korean missiles soaring through a clear blue sky.

According to South Korea's military, North Korea has launched several ballistic missiles into its eastern waters. The military confirmed in a statement that these projectiles are believed to be short-range ballistic missiles.

They were reportedly fired on Thursday from the vicinity of the eastern port city of Monsanto and reached distances of up to 800 kilometers (497 miles) before landing in the sea. South Korea is in close communication with the United States and Japan to exchange information regarding this missile launch. Japan's defense ministry has stated there was no impact on Japan from the North Korean missiles, as reported by Japan's NHK public broadcaster. An image from North Korea's KCNA state media showcases a missile soaring over the ocean, accompanied by flames. This image is believed to represent a cruise missile test launch from February 2025. North Korea has already conducted six missile tests in 2025 alone, with another image from KCNA depicting a test launch in February.

Concerns have been raised about whether North Korea is testing missiles to potentially supply to Russia for use against Ukraine. North Korea's ballistic missile program is prohibited under United Nations Security Council resolutions; however, the nuclear-armed nation has continued to advance its missile development across all ranges. The recent launch might have been aimed at evaluating the performance and flight stability of missiles intended for export, as suggested by Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a briefing on Thursday.

Experts have long indicated that North Korea could be testing weapons for potential export to Russia, which has been accused by both Ukraine and South Korea of receiving ballistic missiles from North Korea in violation of UN sanctions.
A Reuters investigation from February revealed that ballistic missiles manufactured by North Korea and utilized by Russia in Ukraine are exhibiting a "marked improvement" in accuracy.
Kate Hairsine