North Korea fires 10 missiles amid US scaling back military drills with the South

On Thursday, North Korea fired 10 short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters, just a day after dismissing US President Donald Trump's efforts to resume diplomacy. The missile launches originated from Pyongyang, prompting South Korean military surveillance to heighten. The joint chiefs of staff reported the military was closely coordinating information with the US and Japan regarding the launches.

The Japanese prime minister's office also reported a suspected missile launch. Following the launches, the national security council convened an emergency meeting and issued a statement urging North Korea to cease the launches, which are prohibited by UN Security Council resolutions.

Trump had previously ordered a reduction in the duration and scale of the 11-day "Ulchi Freedom Shield" joint military exercises with South Korea, cutting the period by six days to conclude on Friday. The decision came after the US President claimed a strong relationship with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, and South Korea's refusal to support him in the Iran war.

Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, dismissed Trump's overture on Wednesday, stating that the reduced drills would not alter the provocative and aggressive nature of their military actions. She also noted other ongoing US-South Korea military drills and South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines.

Despite her typically harsh rhetoric, Kim Yo-jong refrained from criticizing Trump, referring to relations between her brother and Trump as "still excellent," and mentioning Kim Jong-un's previous comments about having "good memories" of Trump. The launches violated UN Security Council resolutions, and the situation remains tense between North Korea and its neighbors.