---
title: "North Korea fires short-range missiles possibly in performance test for export"
description: "North Korea fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea's military said on Thursday, in what may be a performance test of various projectiles for export."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-08-north-korea-fires-short-range-missiles-possibly-in-performance-test-for-export/"
published: "2025-05-08T04:32:30"
updated: "2025-05-08T04:32:32"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 243
---

# North Korea fires short-range missiles possibly in performance test for export

> North Korea fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea's military said on Thursday, in what may be a performance test of various projectiles for export.

By Reuters · Published 8 May 2025, 06:32 SAST · Updated 8 May 2025, 06:32 SAST

## Key points
- In a dramatic display of missile-launching prowess, North Korea sent projectiles soaring over the sea, leaving South Korea, the U.S., and Japan scrambling for answers while the world wonders if Pyongyang is just flexing its military muscles or auditioning for a role in the next arms trade thriller.
- North Korea launched missiles from Wonsan, reaching 800 km before landing in the sea, as confirmed by military sources.
- South Korea is in close communication with the U.S. and Japan to monitor the situation and share intelligence.
- The launch is speculated to test missile performance for potential export, amid ongoing UN sanctions against North Korea's ballistic missile program.
- North Korea has previously exported weapons to Russia, with both nations denying the arms trade despite evidence of North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine.

## Content

The missiles were launched from Wonsan, North Korea's eastern coastal city, around 8:10 a.m. (2310 GMT Wednesday) and flew up to 800 km (497 miles) before splashing down in the sea, the military said in a statement.

South Korea is closely communicating with the U.S. and Japan to share information about the launch, it added.

South Korea's Joint chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-jun declined to comment on the exact number of missiles detected or their characteristics but said at a news briefing the launch may have been to test the performance and flight stability of missiles intended for export.

The Japanese government also said it detected a launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea, which may have flown on a irregular trajectory.

The nuclear-armed North's ballistic missile programme is banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, but in recent years Pyongyang has forged ahead in developing missiles of all ranges.

In March, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles, while blaming the South Korean and U.S. militaries for conducting drills it calls dangerous and provocative.

North Korea has also exported short-range ballistic missiles, among other weapons, to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, according to U.S. and allied intelligence agencies as well as independent researchers.

Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the weapons trade, although North Korean troops have been deployed to fight on the frontlines in Russia's Kursk region.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Stephen Coates)