The projectile appeared to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) North Korea fired around 10 ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, with Japan’s defence authorities assessing the launches as ballistic missile activity. NHK reported that the projectiles appeared to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with no immediate reports of damage or casualties.South Korea’s National Security Council convened a meeting following the launches to assess the situation and discuss the country’s response. The launches come amid the ongoing US South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, which North Korea has repeatedly condemned as provocative.The latest missile launches come as South Korea estimated that North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, significantly higher than US President Donald Trump’s figure of 57. South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers that the 80 to 120 estimate was based on assessments by private research organisations and could not be independently verified by the South Korean military.Trump said on Wednesday that he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year and described their relationship as good. His comments came after Washington ordered a substantial reduction in US participation in joint military exercises with South Korea as Trump seeks to revive engagement with Pyongyang.North Korea has responded cautiously to the US move. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, said the US policy towards North Korea remains hostile despite the reduction in military drills with South Korea. She said the exercises remained provocative and aggressive, while describing the personal relationship between Trump and Kim as “excellent”. Kim Yo Jong also said she was unaware of any recent communication between the two leaders, despite Trump saying he had received a response from Kim.
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