State-run media in North Korea remained silent for the second consecutive day regarding the mass launch of over a dozen short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.

As of 6:30 a.m. today (August 21), North Korean media outlets, including the external-facing Korean Central News Agency and the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the ruling Workers' Party read by North Korean citizens, had not reported on the previous day's missile launch.

Typically, North Korea reports on ballistic missile launches through state media early the following morning to publicize their purpose and achievements, often highlighting them further if leader Kim Jong-un oversees the event. However, it has remained silent regarding three ballistic missile launches conducted over the past two weeks.

Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that it detected more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea at around 5 p.m. yesterday, adding that South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing the precise specifications.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the ballistic missiles flew a distance of 300 kilometers.

The military is analyzing the launches with a focus on the possibility that they were 600mm super-large multiple rocket launchers (KN-25).

The 600mm super-large multiple rocket launcher is a weapon targeted at South Korea that the North claims can be loaded with the Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead.

North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch came eight days after the previous one and marks the 12th of this year.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff previously detected and announced ballistic missile launches on the 6th and 12th of this month as well.

On the 6th, one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) was fired from the Wonsan area at around 5 p.m., and another ballistic missile was detected at 6 a.m. six days later on the 12th.

North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches are interpreted as a backlash against the annual South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), which is designed to defend the Korean Peninsula in the event of a contingency.

(Photo: Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap News)