Located in Seoul, South Korea — North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Friday, its latest weapons demonstration occurring days after U.S. and South Korean jets completed joint exercises that North Korea perceives as an invasion rehearsal.
North Korea has launched an unprecedented number of missile launches this year in an effort, according to some experts, to bolster its military capabilities and force its adversaries to make concessions in future negotiations, such as sanctions relief. Relatively recently, North Korea also asserted that it had conducted the necessary tests to acquire its first spy satellite and an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.
Friday around 4:32 p.m., the military of South Korea detected two missile launches from the capital region of North Korea. Japan stated that it has also confirmed at least one North Korean missile launch.
It was initially unclear precisely what types of missiles North Korea launched. According to the military of South Korea, the missiles flew approximately 155 and 220 kilometers before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
Toshiro Ino, vice minister of defense of Japan, stated that one missile spotted by Japan traveled as far as 180 miles and as high as 30 miles. He stated that the missile’s trajectory may have been “irregular,” possibly referring to North Korea’s highly maneuverable, nuclear-capable KN-23 missile, which was modeled after the Russian Iskander.
The military of South Korea described the launches as “a grave provocation” that threatens international peace. In conjunction with the United States, South Korea would maintain a strong state of preparedness and constantly watch North Korean actions, it was stated. Additionally, Ino accused North Korea of dramatically escalating tensions by repeatedly conducting weapons tests.
The launches may be a response to Tuesday’s U.S.-South Korean aerial military exercises near the Korean Peninsula, as North Korea has stated that its recent testing actions were intended as a warning to its rivals’ previous coordinated maneuvers. The United States and South Korea claim that their drills are defensive in nature, however North Korea describes them as invasion training.
The most recent U.S.-South Korean exercises attracted nuclear-capable B-52 bombers, stealth F-22 fighter jets, and other advanced South Korean aircraft. According to South Korea’s Defense Ministry, the training was part of a bilateral pact to strengthen the United States’ commitment to defend its Asian partner with all available military capabilities, including nuclear.
On December 20, 2022, a B-52 fighter plane participated in joint U.S. and South Korean exercises. Chiefs of Staff, Joint
The F-22 jets were expected to remain in South Korea for more joint exercises with the South Korean air force this week, but owing to weather circumstances, the U.S. aircraft eventually returned to their base in Japan, according to South Korean defense officials.
The flying exercises followed North Korea’s announcement that it used obsolete missiles as launch vehicles to test cameras and other systems for its first military reconnaissance satellite on Sunday. Its state media also broadcast low-resolution satellite images of South Korean cities.
Some South Korean civilian specialists stated that the photographs were insufficient for surveillance purposes and that the launches were likely a cover for North Korea’s missile technology tests. The military of South Korea asserts that North Korea launched two medium-range ballistic missiles.
Such assessments have angered North Korea, with the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hurling vulgar remarks at unnamed South Korean academics. Kim Yo Jong stated that there was no reason to utilize a costly, high-resolution camera for a single-shot examination.
Kim Yo Jong also scoffed at South Korea’s prior judgment that North Korea still has technological obstacles in acquiring ICBMs capable of launching nuclear strikes on the U.S. mainland, such as the inability to shield its warheads from the harsh conditions of atmospheric reentry.
She stated that North Korea could conduct an ICBM launch with a normal trajectory to demonstrate its ICBM capabilities. All prior ICBM launches by the North were conducted at a steep angle to avoid neighboring countries. As the warhead flies toward the Pacific Ocean, a launch from a normal-angle ICBM may significantly inflame regional animosities and provoke a robust U.S. response.
A spy satellite and a solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile are among the high-tech weapons systems that Kim Jong Un has threatened to deploy in response to what he terms U.S. hostility. He also desires to acquire missiles with multiple warheads, nuclear missiles launched from underwater, nuclear-powered submarines, and hypersonic missiles.
North Korea conducted a test of a “high-thrust solid-fuel engine” last week, which analysts believe would be used for a solid-fueled missile, which is more maneuverable and difficult to detect prior to launch than liquid-fueled missiles.
»North Korea launches two ballistic missiles days after joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises«