SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the North’s eastern waters on Monday, South Korea’s military said.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch was made on Monday morning, but gave no further details, including how far the weapon traveled.
The launch came two days after South Korea, the U.S. and Japan ended their new multidomain trilateral drills that North Korea calls a provocation.
The launch is the North’s first weapons firing in five days. Last Wednesday, North Korea launched what it called a multiwarhead missile in the first known launch of a developmental, advanced weapon meant to defeat U.S. and South Korean missile defenses. North Korea said the launch was successful, but South Korea dismissed the North’s claim as deception to cover up a failed launch.
The South Korea-U.S.-Japanese “Freedom Edge” drill drew a U.S. aircraft carrier and destroyers, fighter jets and helicopters from the three countries. The training involved missile defense, anti-submarine and maritime interdiction drills.
In recent weeks, North Korea has floated numerous trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea in what it has described as a tit-for-tat response to South Korean activists sending political leaflets via their own balloons.
South Korea has confirmed that North Korea recently launched a ballistic missile off its east coast, raising tensions in the region once again. The missile launch comes just days after North Korea conducted a series of short-range missile tests, which were seen as a provocation by the international community.
The South Korean military detected the missile launch early on Thursday morning, with the missile reportedly flying around 800 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan. The type of missile launched has not been confirmed, but it is believed to be a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
This latest missile launch by North Korea is a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which prohibit the country from conducting any ballistic missile tests. The international community has condemned North Korea’s actions, with South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in calling the missile launch “very inappropriate” and urging North Korea to refrain from further provocations.
The United States has also expressed concern over the missile launch, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating that the US is committed to the security of its allies in the region and will work with them to address the threat posed by North Korea’s ballistic missile program.
The missile launch comes at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea recently cutting off communication lines with South Korea and blowing up a joint liaison office near the border. The two Koreas have been engaged in a long-standing conflict, with North Korea’s nuclear weapons program being a major point of contention.
It remains to be seen how the international community will respond to this latest provocation by North Korea. The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the missile launch and consider possible sanctions against North Korea.
In the meantime, South Korea and its allies will continue to monitor the situation closely and work together to ensure the security and stability of the region. The missile launch serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by North Korea’s ballistic missile program and the need for a coordinated international response to address this issue.
