North Korea fired ballistic missiles again towards the Sea of Japan last night, the South Korean news agency ‘Yonhap’ and the South Korean army reported. The launch comes two weeks after North Korea tested a “new type of medium-range hypersonic missile” with a solid-fuel engine.
The missile is said to have been launched near the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. After a flight of 600 km, the missile ended up in the Sea of Japan, east of North Korea. It is the third time since the beginning of this year that they have experimented with new rockets. For example, a test was also carried out in January with an agile hypersonic head.
North Korea released news last year that it had successfully tested its first solid-fuel intercontinental missile. Solid-fuel rockets do not need to be refueled before launch, allowing them to be deployed more quickly. This makes it more difficult for a potential adversary to identify and destroy them.
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Potentially dangerous
Experts believe that if North Korea perfects the missiles, they could reach the US military base on the Pacific island of Guam. The Americans have expanded their presence in the area in recent months by deploying aircraft carriers or missile-carrying submarines, among other things.
In response to the launch, the South Korean Ministry of Defense announced that it was conducting a joint air exercise with fighter jets with the US and Japan. The air exercise took place over the Japanese island of Jeju and included at least one American fighter plane capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
North vs South
Pyongyang previously declared that South Korea “is the main enemy.” For example, North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un closed the dialogue between North and South and would start a war for the slightest violation of his territory, “even by 0.001 millimeters”.
“As we strengthen our surveillance and vigilance, our military has worked closely with the United States to monitor additional signs of North Korean provocations,”
Joint Chiefs of Staff
On March 18, he also tested ballistic missiles when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul, the capital of South Korea. In addition, long-range missiles have also been fired with Seoul as a target. The latest launch came two days after North Korea reaffirmed its intention to launch several reconnaissance satellites this year. South Korea’s military said Monday there were no signals that a satellite launch was imminent.
Jung-Un has called satellites crucial to monitor US and South Korean military movements and increase the threat from its nuclear-capable missiles. Last November, North Korea launched its first military spy satellite into orbit.
Provocation
South Korea’s military dismissed the latest launch as a “provocative gesture” and said it will increase its military readiness to monitor for signs of provocation. Stronger cooperation with allies should also help.
“As we strengthen our monitoring and vigilance, our military has been working closely with the United States to monitor additional signs of North Korean provocations,” the Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS), the military advisory body, said.
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