On the morning of May 8, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) towards the East Sea, roughly two months following their launch of similar projectiles into the West Sea on March 10.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated that the missiles were fired from the vicinity of Wonsan at approximately 8:10 a.m. An army spokesperson mentioned, “Both U.S. and South Korean intelligence services had picked up indications of North Korea’s preparatory activities beforehand and kept a close watch on developments.” The statement also noted, “The detection and tracking of these projectiles occurred right as they were launched.”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the armed forces have stepped up monitoring and vigilance in preparation for potential additional launches, maintaining close coordination with both the United States and Japan regarding North Korea’s missile actions. The South Korean military had also raised its state of preparedness prior to the presidential election due to the possibility of provocation.
In Moscow on the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will engage in discussions amid Russia’s Victory Day festivities. Xi had arrived one day prior for the military parade, which marks his return to this event since he last attended the 70th-anniversary celebration in 2015.
Speculation arose about the possible attendance of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un; however, the Kremlin stated that North Korea would send its ambassador to Russia instead. It was also suggested that a distinct summit could occur between Russia and North Korea after this engagement concludes.
In anticipation of the upcoming October anniversary of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, Kim Jong-un is likely to emphasize the nation’s role in the Ukraine conflict as a significant accomplishment. According to the U.K.-based Open Source Center (OSC), an estimated millions of North Korean ammunition rounds have been transported to Ukraine’s battlefronts through ships and rail networks since September 2023.