South Korea and Japan report North Korea's ballistic missile launch
- In Reports
- 06:35 PM, Apr 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
South Korea's military reported that North Korea launched "several" short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Monday. Seoul swiftly condemned the action, labelling it a serious threat to stability on the Korean peninsula.
The Japanese government issued an alert, and its coast guard confirmed that North Korea had launched what appeared to be a ballistic missile. NHK broadcaster reported that the projectile seemed to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone area.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea launched what they believed to be several short-range ballistic missiles from a location near its capital, Pyongyang. The missiles travelled approximately 300 kilometres before landing in the sea.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement acknowledging the ballistic missile launch, stating that it had assessed there was no immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or allies from the missile launch.
Amid reports of the missile launch, South Korea announced that its top military officer, Admiral Kim Myung-soo, had hosted General Stephen Whiting, the commander of U.S. Space Command. They discussed North Korea's reconnaissance satellite development and the increasing military collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Following a summit between the leaders of North Korea and Russia in September, suspicions have arisen that North Korea may have provided arms and munitions to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, although both countries have denied these allegations.
North Korea is reportedly readying for another spy satellite launch, following a successful deployment in November. Last week, the country announced the testing of a strategic cruise missile with a large warhead and a new anti-aircraft missile.
In April, North Korea fired a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile as part of its ongoing development of solid-fuelled missiles across its arsenal, under the guidance of its leader, Kim Jong Un.
Professor Leif-Eric Easley from Ewha University in Seoul stated that North Korea is fully committed to rapid weapons development, aiming to bolster not only its military advantage but also the political legitimacy of the Kim regime through techno-nationalist means.
North Korea has consistently flouted a United Nations Security Council ban on developing ballistic missiles, asserting that such resolutions encroach upon its sovereign right to self-defence.
Last month, Russia vetoed the annual renewal of sanctions monitoring against North Korea at the Security Council, prompting criticism from US and South Korean officials, who accused Moscow of emboldening Pyongyang. China abstained from the vote.
Both Russia and China, previously supportive of all Security Council resolutions against North Korea, have unsuccessfully attempted to mandate the annual renewal of sanctions.
Image source: Reuters
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