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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNorth Korea<\/a> launched multiple rounds of ballistic missiles on Wednesday, just days after leader Kim Jong Un<\/a> signalled a rare conciliatory note toward South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.The missiles were fired from near Wonsan toward waters off the country\u2019s east coast, according to South Korea\u2019s Joint Chiefs of Staff. In response, Seoul convened an emergency meeting of its national security council and urged Pyongyang to halt actions that violate UN Security Council resolutions.Hours later, North Korea launched at least one more ballistic missile. While its exact range was unclear, Japan\u2019s Coast Guard said the projectile had likely already fallen.According to Bloomberg, the launches came shortly after an unusual exchange between the two Koreas. North Korea had earlier conveyed Kim Jong Un\u2019s praise for Lee\u2019s apology over a drone incident involving aircraft crossing into the North\u2019s airspace. Seoul described the communication as a \u201cmeaningful step forward\u201d for peaceful coexistence.In a statement, Kim\u2019s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said the North Korean leader viewed Lee\u2019s apology as a sign of a \u201cfrank and broad-minded\u201d approach. However, Pyongyang later dismissed Seoul\u2019s interpretation, calling it a \u201chope-filled dream reading.\u201dA senior North Korean official stressed that the message was intended as a warning, asserting that South Korea remains an \u201cenemy state\u201d regardless of its actions or rhetoric.The latest launches also followed a projectile fired a day earlier that may have been a failed weapons test. According to Yonhap News, the missile showed signs of malfunction shortly after launch and disappeared mid-flight. Earlier Wednesday, short-range missiles travelled about 240 kilometres.The back-to-back launches underscore the challenges facing Lee\u2019s government as it seeks to ease tensions with the nuclear-armed North.Analysts say Pyongyang is attempting to counter Seoul\u2019s diplomatic narrative while reinforcing its own position of strength on the Korean Peninsula, even as it continues to push for international recognition as a nuclear power.<\/div>\n\n