North Korea answers US olive branch with missile launch

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea shortly after US President Donald Trump announced his intention to meet with the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, later in the year. This missile firing occurred in the midst of a shortened version of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises between South Korea and the United States, which were ordered to be scaled back by Trump.

Pyongyang has consistently denounced these joint exercises as rehearsals for an invasion. On Wednesday, Trump stated at the White House that he planned to meet with Kim, and described their relationship as strong. He also claimed that North Korea possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. Seoul's military reported that the North fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles shortly after Trump's remarks.

Japan later confirmed that a suspected ballistic missile launched by North Korea had already fallen. Trump's emphasis on Kim and the reduction of joint US-South Korean military drills have caused alarm among Asian allies and speculation that he may be attempting to secure a foreign policy victory amid the stalled Iran war. Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's sister and a highly influential figure, dismissed Trump's overture as unworthy of comment.

She stated that the reduced duration and size of the military drills would not change their provocative and aggressive nature. Kim Yo-jong also referenced other recent US and South Korean military exercises, as well as South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines. Despite reiterating that relations between her brother and Trump remained "excellent," Kim Yo-jong refrained from the typical North Korean response of fiery rhetoric and signaled that North Korea would wait for Trump to make more significant concessions before engaging in talks.