North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile just two weeks after conducting a large-scale artillery firing drill on the 18th of last month.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on the 2nd, “Our military detected a flying object, presumed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile, launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea at around 6:53 a.m. The North Korean missile landed in the East Sea after flying approximately 600km.”
The JCS added, “While strengthening surveillance and alertness in preparation for additional launches, we are closely sharing information related to North Korea’s ballistic missile with U.S. and Japanese authorities, maintaining a state of full readiness. We strongly condemn North Korea’s missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
It is not yet confirmed which specific missile North Korea has launched. Regarding the missile launch, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported, “The missile flew over 400 miles, reaching a maximum altitude of approximately 62 miles. According to multiple government officials, the launched missile appears to have fallen outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the Defense Agency is gathering information.”
The broadcaster explained, “The Japan Coast Guard, citing the Defense Agency’s information, announced at 7:04 a.m. that something that could be a ballistic missile appears to have already fallen. They are advising ships at sea to be alert for future information.”
Previously, North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea on January 14th, just like this time. At that time, North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a hypersonic intermediate-long-range ballistic missile (IRBM) using a solid fuel propellant, leading to speculation that a similar missile may have been test-fired this time as well.
On January 15th, North Korean state media Korea Central News Agency reported that the North Korean Missile Bureau “conducted a test launch of an intermediate-long-range solid fuel ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic maneuvering warhead on the afternoon of the 14th,” and “the test launch was successfully conducted.”
Concerning recent events, Col. Lee Seong Joon, head of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff’s (JCS) public affairs bureau, stated during a regular Ministry of Defense briefing on April 2nd that “There are similarities to what happened in January as well as some differences, thus detailed assessment is necessary.” He noted, “We are evaluating this in connection with the solid fuel ground test that North Korea publicly reported in March.”
He explained that North Korea “conducted the test with a specific intention and believes that the capabilities of the projectile could have been enhanced, and the payload of the warhead could have been tested for a certain purpose.”
When asked whether North Korea’s missile launch, occurring approximately a week before South Korea’s 22nd National Assembly elections, was intentional, Col. Lee stated, “Further analysis is required,” indicating a cautious approach to attributing motives.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who recently received a rejection notice from North Korea regarding a summit, met with reporters at his official residence and stated that “it is unacceptable, not only for our country but also for regional and international security,” according to Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun.
Prime Minister Kishida stated that North Korea’s recent launch violated the UN Security Council resolutions and expressed his protest against North Korea.
Most Commented