North Korea fired artillery rockets before US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the border, continuing a pattern of provocative military actions.
SEOUL: North Korea fired multiple artillery rockets just one hour before US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the heavily fortified border with South Korea, Seoul’s military confirmed on Tuesday.
Pyongyang also launched similar weapons minutes before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last week, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The military detected approximately 10 artillery rockets fired into the northern part of the West Sea, Seoul’s name for the Yellow Sea.
The weapons were launched around 3:00 pm on Saturday and approximately 4:00 pm on Monday.
“Details of the projectiles are currently being closely analysed by South Korean and US intelligence authorities,” the JCS added.
Hegseth became the first Pentagon chief in eight years to visit the border dividing North and South Korea on Monday.
He toured Panmunjom, the symbolic truce village where troops from both Koreas stand face-to-face, after stopping at Observation Post Ouellette overlooking the Demilitarized Zone.
Hegseth and South Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu-back “reaffirmed the strong combined defence posture and close cooperation between South Korea and the United States,” Seoul’s defence ministry stated.
Hegseth said at a joint news conference with Ahn on Tuesday that South Korea faces a “dangerous security environment” and both ministers agreed to remain “clear-eyed about the threats” they face.
He noted South Korea’s increased defence spending would accelerate its “ability to lead its conventional deterrence and defence against North Korea”.
President Lee announced Tuesday that Seoul would implement its biggest defence budget increase in six years with an 8.2% rise to 66.3 trillion won.
Hegseth’s visit followed US President Donald Trump’s overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his Asia tour last week, which drew no public response from Pyongyang.
Trump has indicated he would still be willing to “come back” for a future meeting with Kim.
On Saturday, Lee met Xi on the sidelines of an Asian economic summit, urging the Chinese leader to help Seoul “resume dialogue” with North Korea.
Lee stressed the need for regional “stability” and noted “recent high-level exchanges between China and North Korea,” referencing Kim’s attendance at a major military parade in Beijing in September. – AFP
