North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles in a barrage today (Aug. 20), despite U.S. President Donald Trump's proposals for dialogue.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that it detected approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles launched toward the East Sea from the Pyongyang area at around 5 p.m. today.

The detected North Korean missiles flew about 300 kilometers, and South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of their precise specifications, the JCS stated.

South Korea-U.S. intelligence authorities have been tracking and sharing related trends since the early stage of the launch, and added that they also shared information regarding the North Korean ballistic missiles with Japan.

The JCS emphasized that under a firm South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, it is closely monitoring various North Korean developments while maintaining the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation.

The military authorities are analyzing the launch with weight given to the possibility that North Korea fired 600mm super-large multiple rocket launchers.

The 600mm super-large multiple rocket launcher is a weapon designed for striking South Korea, which Pyongyang claims can be armed with the Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead.

Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back stated at the National Assembly's National Defense Committee today that signs were identified even before the launch to establish a readiness posture, and that the launched missiles are believed to be 600mm multiple rocket launchers, which were continuously tracked from launch to flight and disappearance stages using Green Pine radars.

North Korea's launch today came as President Trump ordered a reduction in South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and publicly extended an olive branch for a North Korea-U.S. summit.

Following President Trump's order to scale down the joint exercises on August 17, Seoul and Washington significantly shortened the ongoing theater-level South Korea-U.S. joint exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, from the originally planned 11 days to 5 days, and also reduced joint field maneuvering exercises.

However, Kim Yo-jong, deputy department director of the Workers' Party of Korea and sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed the reduction of South Korea-U.S. joint exercises through a statement released via the Korean Central News Agency on the night of August 19, stating she felt no interest in it.

Kim added that regardless of the excellent relations between the leaders of the two countries, the sovereign exercises they undertake to check forces threatening the security of their country are very common-sense, appropriate, and essential.

By proceeding with a ballistic missile launch right the day after issuing this stance, Pyongyang effectively demonstrated its sovereign exercise through actions.

The firing of ballistic missiles just a day before the conclusion of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise—shortened to end on August 21—is interpreted as an expression of discontent over the exercise still being underway and an attempt to pressure for the complete suspension of South Korea-U.S. joint drills.

North Korea also fired about 10 ballistic missiles from the Sunan area toward the East Sea on March 14 of this year, shortly after President Trump met with then-Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and signaled a willingness for dialogue toward leader Kim Jong Un during the first-half South Korea-U.S. joint exercise, Freedom Shield.

Later, Pyongyang announced that the launch was a 600mm super-large multiple rocket launcher strike drill.

Possibilities are being raised that this launch is also an armed demonstration of a similar nature.

This launch was also carried out immediately after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrapped up his visit to South Korea from August 19 to 20.

News of this launch was reported about an hour and a half after Foreign Minister Wang departed South Korea.

This marks North Korea's ballistic missile launch in 8 days and the 12th of this year.

North Korea also fired one ballistic missile each into the East Sea on August 6 and 12, ahead of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise.

Including this latest instance, Pyongyang has launched ballistic missile provocations three times consecutively within a span of two weeks.

Around 6 a.m. on August 12, it fired one ballistic missile from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, which flew more than 700 kilometers.

It also fired short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea on the afternoon of August 6.

The Ministry of National Defense had previously interpreted these as military provocations in protest against the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise in its parliamentary report materials.

However, questions arose over the background as North Korea did not report the fact of either launch through its state media.