North Korea fires 10 missiles day after Trump curtails South Korea joint drills

Key Points:

• North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters, prompting South Korea to enhance surveillance and coordinate with the US and Japan, following a day after Pyongyang dismissed US President Donald Trump's order to reduce joint military drills.
• South Korea's national security council held an emergency meeting, urging North Korea to stop missile launches, which violate UN Security Council resolutions, while Japan also detected a suspected missile launch.
• The US and South Korea scaled back their Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises after Trump ordered a substantial reduction, citing his good relationship with Kim Jong-un and South Korea's stance on the Iran conflict.
• Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, criticized the US-South Korea drills despite their reduction, but maintained that personal relations between Kim and Trump remain excellent, possibly signaling Pyongyang's interest in waiting for further US concessions before resuming talks.
• Trump expressed optimism about meeting Kim Jong-un this year and confirmed a good personal relationship, though he did not confirm if they were exchanging letters.