In a recent display of military prowess, North Korea launched an estimated ten short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea, as reported by South Korea's military.
This event follows a failed attempt by North Korea to launch a military reconnaissance satellite, an act that drew significant criticism from its adversaries.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the detection of the missile launches, which originated from a location near Pyongyang, North Korea's capital. The suspected missiles reportedly traveled approximately 217 miles before descending into the waters off North Korea's eastern coast. In response to these activities, South Korea has heightened its surveillance and vigilance, and is actively sharing information with its allies, the United States and Japan.
Japan's coast guard has issued a maritime safety advisory in light of the North Korean launches, urging ships to exercise caution in the event of encountering any fallen objects. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that the suspected missiles are believed to have landed outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone, with no immediate reports of damages. Kishida strongly condemned the launches, citing their violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions against North Korea.
The Korean Peninsula has been a hotbed of tension in recent months, with an escalation in both North Korea's weapons testing and South Korea's combined military exercises with the United States and Japan. This cycle of tit-for-tat has intensified, leading to an increasingly volatile situation.
The missile launches on Thursday followed North Korea's retaliation against South Korean activists, who had been distributing anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. In response, North Korea released hundreds of trash-carrying balloons toward the South. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had previously warned of "overwhelming actions" against South Korea, following an aerial exercise involving 20 fighter jets near the inter-Korean border.
Despite the recent failure of the rocket launch, Kim Jong Un has urged his military scientists to persist in developing space-based reconnaissance capabilities. He views these capabilities as essential for monitoring U.S. and South Korean military activities and enhancing the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles.
In addition to the missile launches, North Korea also responded to international condemnation of its failed satellite launch. The United Nations and other countries have strongly criticized this event, as it involves technologies used for developing intercontinental range ballistic missiles. Despite the failure of Monday's launch, North Korea remains committed to its plans to launch three more military spy satellites in 2024.
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong issued a statement in response to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' condemnation of Monday's launch. He emphasized North Korea's determination to continue developing its space reconnaissance capability, regardless of international opinion.
Thursday's missile launches are the latest in a series of weapons tests conducted by North Korea. Earlier this year, North Korea tested various cruise missiles and artillery systems, and flight-tested a solid-fuel intermediate range missile with hypersonic warhead capabilities. Experts suggest that this missile is designed to reach remote U.S. targets in the Pacific, including the military hub of Guam.
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