Overview

• North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles on May 8 from Wonsan, with the farthest missile traveling up to 800 kilometers into the East Sea.
• South Korea's military speculated the tests may have been conducted to assess missile performance for potential exports to Russia, amid growing military ties between the two nations.
• Kim Jong Un oversaw the drills, which included testing the 'nuclear trigger' system and emphasized the operational readiness of North Korea’s nuclear forces.
• South Korea, the United States, and Japan condemned the missile tests as violations of UN Security Council resolutions and a threat to regional stability.
• Japan confirmed the missiles posed no immediate threat to its territory, while allied intelligence-sharing and defense postures remain heightened.