North Korea fires two short-range missiles, state media stays silent

On Sunday, North Korean forces launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, the first at about 3:00 p.m. and the second near 5:50 p.m.. The missiles traveled roughly 450 km and more than 600 km, respectively, and were launched from the vicinity of Wonsan. Unlike its usual practice, the Korean Central News Agency did not report the launches the following morning, extending a recent trend of irregular disclosures.

The timing aligns with the upcoming United Nations General Assembly high-level debate and a scheduled summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. Analysts view the launches as a signal to the Trump administration amid heightened criticism by Kim Yo-jong of recent Pacific Vanguard maritime drills involving South Korea, the United States and Japan. The events underscore Pyongyang’s continued emphasis on military readiness and its opposition to regional exercises.