SEOUL and LONDON — North Korea test-launched on Monday two ballistic missiles, one of which may have failed and fallen to the ground before reaching the sea, according to South Korea‘s military and media.
“We strongly condemn North Korea’s missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The tests were detected at 5:05 a.m. and 5:15 a.m., the South Korean military said. South Korean officials shared the launch data in real-time with the United States and Japan, South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.
This picture taken on June 29, 2024 and released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency via KNS on June 30, 2024 shows North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un taking part in the second day of the 10th enlarged plenary session of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea at an undisclosed location.
Str/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image
The latest provocation from North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Un, followed last week’s joint military exercises by the U.S., Japan and South Korea. Those exercises were a sign that the security cooperation in the region “has never been stronger,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Friday.
The U.S. military condemned Monday’s launches, calling on North Korea to put an end to its “unlawful and destabilizing acts.”
“While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, we continue to monitor the situation,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. “The U.S. commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan remain ironclad.”
A man walks past a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on July 1, 2024.
Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images
The first of Monday’s ballistic missile tests flew about 600 km, or about 373 miles, and landed off Chongjin, North Korea, in the Sea of Japan, the South Korean military said.
The other missile appeared to have flown only about 120 km, or about 75 miles, the military told the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
“It is difficult to know exactly where the short-range missile hit, and we believe it may have gone toward Pyongyang,” a South Korean military official said, according to Yonhap.
ABC News’ Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.
North Korea has once again made headlines with its recent missile tests, one of which may have landed on land. The reclusive nation conducted the tests in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which prohibit North Korea from launching ballistic missiles.
The missile tests were carried out as a show of force and defiance against the international community, particularly the United States and South Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been known to use these tests as a way to assert his authority and project strength both domestically and internationally.
The missile that potentially landed on land is a cause for concern, as it raises the possibility of civilian casualties and damage to property. This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of North Korea’s actions and the potential threat it poses to regional stability.
The international community has condemned North Korea’s missile tests, with the United States and South Korea calling for a strong response. The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and consider possible sanctions against North Korea.
Despite the condemnation and calls for action, it remains to be seen whether these missile tests will lead to any significant changes in North Korea’s behavior. The reclusive nation has a long history of defying international norms and sanctions, and it is unlikely that these latest tests will deter Kim Jong Un from pursuing his aggressive military agenda.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, it is imperative for the international community to remain vigilant and united in its efforts to address the threat posed by North Korea’s missile program. The safety and security of the region depend on a coordinated and effective response to North Korea’s provocative actions.
