North Korea launched a medium-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan from the vicinity of Pyongyang this morning. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced they detected the missile, presumed to be a medium-range ballistic missile, launched around 6:53 AM, traveling approximately 372 miles (600 kilometers) before landing in the Sea of Japan.
Our military immediately detected and tracked the missile launch, and related information was closely shared with the United States and Japan. An in-depth analysis of the missile’s specifications is currently underway. The Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the launch as “a clear act of provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.”
They added, “Our military will maintain a strong readiness and capability to overwhelmingly respond to any provocation under the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance defense posture.”
Military authorities are analyzing the missile as being possibly launched using a solid-fuel engine from a newly tested medium to long-range hypersonic missile system that North Korea tested last March.
North Korea’s state media reported last month that on March 19, under the supervision of Secretary-General Kim Jong-un, a ground jet test of a multi-stage solid-fuel rocket engine intended for a medium—to long-range hypersonic missile was conducted at a satellite launch site on the west coast.
This launch comes two weeks after North Korea successfully conducted a ground jet test of a solid-fuel engine. This suggests the possibility that the newly launched medium to long-range hypersonic missile was mounted with this engine.
The military authorities are evaluating the missile’s stage separation as usual and analyzing the propulsion system, which is reportedly stronger than the test successfully tested on January 15. This indicates an advancement in North Korea’s hypersonic missile technology.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Defense Ministry also reported the launch, stating that North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile around 6:52 AM from its west coast in a northeast direction, flying approximately 404 miles (650 kilometers) and reaching a maximum altitude of about 62 miles (100 kilometers), believed to have fallen outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to the east of the Korean Peninsula. No damage to aircraft or ships in the vicinity has been reported.
This missile launch follows North Korea’s firing of a super-large multiple rocket launcher 15 days after conducting a shooting drill that could target the entire South Korea.
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