North Korea Launches Two Ballistic Missiles, South Korea Says Launch “Failed”
Image Credits: BBC
It has been reported by the South Korean military that North Korea may have fired two ballistic missiles in a test launch, one of which may have failed and blown up during an abnormal flight. The launch comes two days after joint military drills between the United States, South Korea, and Japan have taken place, to which North Korean leaders vowed to respond “aggressively and overwhelmingly.”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said in a statement that the missiles were launched ten minutes apart and came from a northeastern direction from the town of Jangyon in southeastern North Korea. It was also added that the first missile flew 600 kilometers and the second flew 120 kilometers, and that the trajectory of the missile showed it could have landed somewhere near the North of Pyongyang, the capital. Lee was unable to provide any further information, stating that South Korea was still analyzing the launch and did not have any immediate confirmation as to whether any casualties or damage to property occurred to North Korean property.
The launches were condemned by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a provocation by North Korea that would pose a threat to stability in the Korean Peninsula. It also added that information regarding the missile launches was shared with the United States and Japan.
The North Korean launches follow a joint military drill that was carried out by South Korea, Japan, and the United States under an operation known as the “Freedom Edge.” The Freedom Edge drills are conducted with the intent to enhance previous military exercises, with simultaneous air and naval drills that work towards improving joint ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and other skills. These drills have been heavily criticized by North Korean officials, with North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issuing a large statement where they claim that such drills show that the relationship between the three countries has developed into the “Asian version of NATO.”
To strengthen military cooperation between the three countries amid escalating tensions within the Korean peninsula, these military exercises had been devised at the three-way summit at Camp David last year. The tensions come following North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats and China’s growing influence in the region. Moreover, North Korea had recently strengthened its bilateral ties with Russia, with a visit from the President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang.
The two leaders signed a pact that ensures military assistance from either side if the other gets attacked. At the United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday, the United States, France, and Britain accused Russia of violating an arms embargo on North Korea by using their missiles and munitions in Ukraine. Russia denied all allegations. The bloc also called out China, saying it should use its influence over the two countries to end “this increasingly dangerous military cooperation” and maintain regional peace, in response to which China strongly rejected the accusations that it was strengthening North Korea by not condemning Russia’s actions.
On Wednesday, North Korea had fired a hypersonic missile in its first known test of a developmental, advanced weapon that is meant to defeat U.S and South Korean missile defenses. While North Korea claims it was a success, South Korea’s military said it spiraled out of control and exploded. Monday’s launch is North Korea’s first weapons launch in over five days.
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