Kim's show of strength: 10 missiles launched during the South's exercises with the US

NEW DELHI - In a show of force explicitly directed at the Armed Forces of Seoul and Washington, which are conducting one of their two annual joint exercises these days, North Korea launched a dozen missiles into the eastern arm of the peninsula on Saturday morning.

According to the South Korean military leadership, the missiles were fired from a base near the North Korean capital Pyongyang. The Japanese Defence Ministry said they fell in waters outside North Korea's exclusive economic zone. The South's military reported that it had strengthened its surveillance, maintained high alert against any further launches, and was sharing information in its possession with the US and Japan.

Saturday's launches come at a very special historical moment because they occurred while the US and South Korean armed forces are conducting their annual spring exercises involving thousands of soldiers, and at a time when the US administration is engaged in an escalating war in the Middle East.

Not only that. In recent days there have been rumours about the redeployment towards the Persian Gulf of some American missile defence systems currently deployed in the defence of South Korea. The hypothesis was made by local media, based on security camera footage and other images.

The office of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he could not confirm details of US military operations and stated that a possible transfer of assets would not affect the defensive posture against North Korea. A similar response had previously been given to reports of the possible transfer of Patriot missile defence systems.