A series of photos and videos about mysterious lights in the sky in Korea confused many people, raising a series of questions on December 30. It turned out to be a missile test by the South Korean military, but it was hidden by the government until the last minute for security reasons.

The light trail from the South Korean military’s missile launch was captured in Goyang city on the evening of December 30 – Photo: AP

On December 30, Korean social networking sites and the Internet were flooded with questions from people who said that they had witnessed an object soaring, leaving a trail of rainbow-colored steam or mysterious lights. other hidden.

“What is this? Is it a UFO? I’m so scared!”, one Twitter user could not hide his concern.

Others suspect it was a North Korean missile launch towards South Korea and fear a war on the Korean peninsula.

In 2022, Pyongyang launched a series of missiles, even believed to have sent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across the border into the capital Seoul.

Many people are more calm, speculating this is just a light show by drones or some supernatural phenomenon.

According to local media, the South Korean police and emergency office received hundreds of calls from people across the country reporting seeing a suspicious flying object or mysterious light.

The South Korean military was forced to speak out late on December 30 to clear all fears and doubts, according to the Associated Press.

In a statement, the South Korean Defense Ministry explained that the light trail was a phenomenon created after the test launch of a solid propellant rocket. This is part of an effort to build space surveillance capabilities and strengthen defenses.

The launch was not announced to the public for security reasons and to ensure the confidentiality of the sensitive military project.

South Korean officials explained that solid-fuel rockets reduce launch time, are simpler in structure, and cost less to develop and manufacture than liquid-fueled rockets.

The launch image was taken from another location in Korea – Photo: Twitter @koryodynasty

According to observers, the launch could also be Seoul’s warning response to Pyongyang’s recent actions.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula showed signs of escalation when both South Korea and North Korea took turns to retaliate in a tit-for-tat manner.

On December 31, a day after South Korea launched a space rocket, North Korea is said to have launched three ballistic missiles in a row over the eastern seaboard of the Korean peninsula.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected North Korean missiles launched from Chunghwa County, North Hwanghae Province at 8 am on December 31 (local time). All three rockets flew at an altitude of about 100km and fell into the sea after traveling about 350km.

The US Indo-Pacific Command said the latest launches did not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory or its allies.

Currently, North Korea has not commented on the information of the US and South Korea. Normally, North Korean state media will confirm the incident a day later, accompanied by strong messages to countries that are hostile to Pyongyang.