North Korea conducted a missile launch on Monday, believed to be an upgraded hypersonic weapon. This test is likely part of the continued development following the hypersonic missile tests in January and April 2024.
Experts suggest that this latest missile launch aims to exploit South Korea’s political instability, challenge U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Seoul, and send a message to the incoming U.S. administration just two weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed that at approximately noon, South Korean forces detected a ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea. The missile reportedly traveled about 1,100 kilometers before landing in the East Sea.
According to the JCS, South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies had been monitoring North Korea’s launch preparations and promptly detected and tracked the missile after launch. Relevant information was immediately shared with the United States and Japan, and detailed specifications are currently being comprehensively analyzed.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff strongly condemned the launch, calling it a clear provocation that gravely threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
They highlighted that the South Korean military maintains a strong ROK-U.S. combined defense posture to deter North Korea and stands ready to respond decisively to any provocations.
Military officials focus on analyzing the missile’s specifications, particularly its classification as a hypersonic weapon. They also monitor for signs of additional missile launches. Notably, the initial description of the missile as “medium-range” was omitted from the final announcement.
A JCS official explained, “The missile’s flight time was under 10 minutes, and its range was about 1,100 kilometers. We decided it was inappropriate to label it as medium-range, so it was omitted. However, the missile’s engine is similar to medium-range ballistic missiles.”
Another official noted ongoing observations of mobile missile launcher (TEL) movements near Pyongyang, indicating the possibility of additional launches involving medium-range or longer-range ballistic missiles.
Sources revealed that South Korean and U.S. military authorities had prior intelligence about North Korea’s missile launch preparations. On the morning of the launch, an American RC-135 Cobra Ball reconnaissance aircraft was seen flying from Okinawa toward the East Sea shortly before the missile was fired.
Commenting on North Korea’s provocation, a defense analyst stated that we need to carefully consider why North Korea chose to conduct this missile test during a period of intense political turmoil in South Korea.
While it appears to be a response to Blinken’s visit and a message to the incoming U.S. administration, it may also be an attempt to destabilize South Korea’s political situation further.”
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