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This image, released by North Korean state media, shows a missile launched by the country in April. (KCNA/Yonhap News)

North Korea test-fired three missiles on Wednesday, one day after US President Joe Biden completed his schedule of visiting South Korea and Japan.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Wednesday that it had detected three ballistic missiles launched by North Korea toward the East Sea from the Sunan area of Pyongyang at 6:00, 6:37, and 6:42 that morning. Occurring four days after a South Korea-US summit on Saturday, it was the second round of missile test launches since the administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol took office.

Military authorities are currently working to determine the specifics of the three North Korean missiles, including their range and altitude.

Recently, North Korea had been observed making intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch preparations in the area of an airfield in Sunan in Pyongyang. The fact that three missiles were detected that day suggests a possibility that the North may have launched a combination of one or more ICBMs together with intermediate- or short-range ballistic missiles.

The missile launches were North Korea’s first in 13 days since May 12, when it test-launched three short-range missiles. Wednesday’s launches marked its 17th show of military force this year.

Since North Korea’s launch came a day after Biden’s departure from Japan Tuesday afternoon following visits to South Korea and Japan between Friday and Tuesday, analysts suggested the show of force may have been carried out with the South Korea-US and US-Japan summits in mind.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol presides over a National Security Council meeting on the morning of May 25 to discuss North Korea’s missile launch. (provided by the presidential office)

Additionally, with North Korea recently claiming that its wave of COVID-19 infections had abated, observers are predicting it could engage in additional military activities going forward. South Korean and US authorities have made ongoing references to the possibilities of missile launches and nuclear testing by the North.

The Joint Chiefs stressed that the South Korean military was “closely coordinating with the US to maintain a full readiness posture with increased surveillance and alerts.”

Many are now watching to see how the Yoon administration responds — especially in light of recent remarks by the president and Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup declaring that it would be “different from previous administrations” in its response to North Korean provocations.

In a joint statement released after their summit on Saturday, Yoon and Biden reaffirmed plans for the timely deployment of US strategic assets such as long-range bombers.

At 7:30 on Wednesday morning, Yoon held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting at his presidential office in Seoul’s Yongsan District.

By Kwon Hyuk-chul, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]