Fact Check: North Korea launched over a dozen rockets this morning.

Fact Check: "North Korea launched over a dozen rockets this morning."

What We Know

On January 13, 2025, North Korea conducted a missile launch, firing multiple missiles toward its eastern waters. According to South Korea's military, these missiles were short-range ballistic missiles that flew approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) before landing in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. This event marked North Korea's second missile launch of the year, following a previous launch on January 6, 2025, which involved a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile (AP News).

In a separate incident reported on January 12, 2025, North Korea fired more than 10 rounds of artillery rockets into the Yellow Sea. This launch was described as a response to joint military exercises conducted by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, indicating rising tensions in the region (New York Post, NK News). South Korean military officials confirmed that the projectiles were fired from an upgraded multiple rocket launcher and flew tens of kilometers before landing in the sea (NK News).

Analysis

The claim that "North Korea launched over a dozen rockets this morning" is partially true. While it is accurate that North Korea launched multiple missiles and artillery rounds, the specific number of rockets launched on the morning in question is not definitively stated as "over a dozen." The reports indicate that there were "multiple missiles" launched toward eastern waters and "more than 10 rounds of artillery rockets" fired into the Yellow Sea, but the exact total number of rockets launched in these incidents is not clearly defined as exceeding twelve (AP News, New York Post, NK News).

The sources used in this analysis are generally reliable, with the Associated Press and South Korean military reports providing credible information. However, the interpretation of the number of rockets launched can vary based on the timing and context of the reports. The New York Post and NK News also provide context about the geopolitical tensions surrounding these launches, which adds to the understanding of the situation but may also introduce some bias depending on the outlet's editorial stance.

Conclusion

The claim that "North Korea launched over a dozen rockets this morning" is Partially True. While North Korea did launch multiple missiles and artillery rounds, the specific phrasing of "over a dozen" may not accurately reflect the reported numbers. The launches were significant and indicative of rising tensions, but the exact count of rockets launched is not definitively established as exceeding twelve in the available reports.