North Korea Fires Artillery Rockets Ahead of Hegseth's DMZ Visit and South Korean President's Meeting with Chinese Leader
North Korea fired multiple artillery rockets just before US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone and before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
SEOUL: North Korea fired multiple artillery rockets an hour before US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's visit to the border separating it from the South, Seoul’s military said on Tuesday.
The latest provocation by Pyongyang also occurred 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 (JCS).
The JCS stated that they had recently 'detected about 10 artillery rockets fired into the northern part of the West Sea,' which is Seoul's name for the Yellow Sea.
The weapons were launched at approximately 3:00 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Saturday and around 4:00 p.m. on Monday.
'Details of the projectiles are currently being closely analyzed by South Korean and US intelligence authorities,' the JCS added.
Hegseth visited the heavily fortified border dividing North and South Korea on Monday, marking the first time a Pentagon chief has done so in eight years.
During his visit, he toured Panmunjom, the symbolic truce village where troops from both Koreas stand face-to-face, after stopping by Observation Post Ouellette overlooking the Demilitarized Zone.
Hegseth and South Korean defense minister Ahn Gyu-back 'reaffirmed the strong combined defense posture and close cooperation between South Korea and the United States,' according to a statement released by Seoul’s defense ministry.
At a joint news conference with Ahn on Tuesday, Hegseth stated that South Korea faces a 'dangerous security environment' and both ministers agreed to remain 'clear-eyed about the threats' they are facing.
He also mentioned that an increase in South Korean defense spending will enhance its 'ability to lead its conventional deterrence and defense against North Korea.'
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday that Seoul would boost its defense budget by 8.2 percent, marking the largest increase in six years with a total of 66.3 trillion won ($4.6 billion).
Hegseth's visit to the DMZ follows US President Donald Trump’s overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his recent Asia tour, which did not elicit any public response from Pyongyang.
However, Trump has indicated that he is still open to holding 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 pointed out 'recent high-level exchanges between China and North Korea,' likely in reference to Kim’s attendance at a major military parade in Beijing in September.
The latest provocation by Pyongyang also occurred 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 (JCS).
The JCS stated that they had recently 'detected about 10 artillery rockets fired into the northern part of the West Sea,' which is Seoul's name for the Yellow Sea.
The weapons were launched at approximately 3:00 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Saturday and around 4:00 p.m. on Monday.
'Details of the projectiles are currently being closely analyzed by South Korean and US intelligence authorities,' the JCS added.
Hegseth visited the heavily fortified border dividing North and South Korea on Monday, marking the first time a Pentagon chief has done so in eight years.
During his visit, he toured Panmunjom, the symbolic truce village where troops from both Koreas stand face-to-face, after stopping by Observation Post Ouellette overlooking the Demilitarized Zone.
Hegseth and South Korean defense minister Ahn Gyu-back 'reaffirmed the strong combined defense posture and close cooperation between South Korea and the United States,' according to a statement released by Seoul’s defense ministry.
At a joint news conference with Ahn on Tuesday, Hegseth stated that South Korea faces a 'dangerous security environment' and both ministers agreed to remain 'clear-eyed about the threats' they are facing.
He also mentioned that an increase in South Korean defense spending will enhance its 'ability to lead its conventional deterrence and defense against North Korea.'
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday that Seoul would boost its defense budget by 8.2 percent, marking the largest increase in six years with a total of 66.3 trillion won ($4.6 billion).
Hegseth's visit to the DMZ follows US President Donald Trump’s overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his recent Asia tour, which did not elicit any public response from Pyongyang.
However, Trump has indicated that he is still open to holding 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 pointed out 'recent high-level exchanges between China and North Korea,' likely in reference to Kim’s attendance at a major military parade in Beijing in September.
