DPRK conducts two ballistic missile provocations in one day, morning and afternoon—three launches in two days

According to Financial News, the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (ROK JCS) announced on the 8th that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired ballistic missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) in the afternoon, following a launch earlier that morning. This is the first time under the Lee Jae-myung administration that the DPRK has launched ballistic missiles twice in a single day.
The DPRK also launched a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) in the morning. The missile flew about 240 kilometers over the East Sea before falling into the water.
The DPRK had already fired an unidentified projectile on the morning of the 7th. That projectile is believed to have disappeared in the early stage of its flight, and the South Korean military is examining the possibility that it was a ballistic missile.
The ROK JCS explained, "The exact specifications are being closely analyzed by South Korea and the United States," adding, "The South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities tracked the launch activity and closely shared relevant information."
The South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are reported to assess that the ballistic missile launched in the morning was likely a KN-23 short-range ballistic missile, often referred to as the DPRK version of the 9K720 Iskander short-range ballistic missile system.
The DPRK also launched an unidentified projectile eastward from the Pyongyang area the previous day. It is believed to have shown abnormal signs in the early phase of flight and then disappeared.
The South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are said to presume that the projectile launched the previous day was a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM).
There is a possibility that, following the failed launch the day before, the DPRK proceeded with missile test launches for a second consecutive day.
The ROK JCS stressed, "Under the firm Republic of Korea–United States combined defense posture, our military is closely monitoring various developments in the DPRK and maintaining the capabilities and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation."
Analysts view the DPRK’s three provocations over two consecutive days as an attempt to directly undercut and block the recent domestic expectations of a possible thaw in inter-Korean relations that emerged after a statement by Kim Yo Jong. In particular, the launches are seen as signaling that Pyongyang has no intention of easing its stance on the notion of the two Koreas as "hostile separate states."

wangjylee@fnnews.com Lee Jong-yoon Reporter