North Korea has launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, just days before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office. South Korea’s military confirmed the launch early on January 14, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detecting the missiles around 9:30 a.m. from the Ganggye area in North Korea’s Jagang Province, as reported by Yonhap.

This latest missile test marks North Korea’s second provocation of 2025, following the launch of what the regime claimed was a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile on January 6. The timing of these provocations highlights North Korea's ongoing defiance and its intentions to challenge the incoming US administration.

In recent statements, North Korea has declared its intent to pursue the "toughest" countermeasures against the United States, criticising the growing military cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan, calling it a "military bloc for aggression." This rhetoric underlines the regime’s ongoing distrust of the US-led alliance and its military capabilities.

South Korea’s military has responded by increasing its vigilance and coordination with the US and Japan, bolstering surveillance and intelligence-sharing efforts. The JCS reassured that the three countries are maintaining a full readiness posture in response to the growing threat posed by North Korea's missile programme.

The launch has heightened concerns over the potential for further provocations, with analysts predicting that the regime will continue its missile development as part of its broader strategy to challenge international norms and secure its political leverage. The move also signals North Korea’s desire to assert itself as the incoming US administration prepares to take office.

As the international community closely monitors the situation, this latest missile test serves as a reminder of the enduring instability on the Korean Peninsula and the complex dynamics at play between North Korea, the US, and its allies in East Asia.