THE SQUIZ
North Korea fired a series of missiles towards South Korea yesterday morning, with one breaching the country’s ‘Northern Limit Line’ (aka the maritime border) for the first time since they split more than 70 years ago. South Korean authorities said at least 23 missiles – the most fired in a single day – were fired by North Korea, and one landed in the sea less than 60km from the South Korean city of Sokcho. Residents of Ulleungdo – an island off the South’s east coast – were also ordered into underground shelters as air raid sirens rang out. In response, South Korea fired 3 missiles northwards, with President Yoon Suk-yeol calling Pyongyang’s actions an “effective territorial invasion”. Experts say it’s one of the most “aggressive and threatening” moves by the North in years.

WHAT’S LED TO THIS?
Tensions in the Korean Peninsula have been bubbling for ages, but this year North Korea has fired a record number of test missiles. North Korean President Kim Jong Un usually launches missiles to test weapons technology, send political messages to the US and others, and shore up support amongst his own people for the military. And as it just so happens, the US is involved in big air drills with South Korea this week… And Japan’s joined them after North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile over the country last month. North Korea has demanded a stop to the provocation. “The US and South Korea will have to face a terrible case and pay the most horrible price in history,” one senior North Korean official said.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
South Korea and Japan’s leaders have called national security meetings in response to yesterday’s events, and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to meet his South Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup at the Pentagon today. South Korean military bosses say they won’t tolerate the North’s provocations and will “strictly and firmly respond under close South Korea-US cooperation”. With concerns from the United Nations’ watchdog that Pyongyang could be preparing for a nuclear test, officials are watching the situation “very closely”. “We hope it doesn’t happen, but indications, unfortunately, go in another direction,” International Atomic Energy Agency boss Rafael Grossi said last week. Yikes…