North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile toward the sea on Sunday, in a test of activities that appeared to be in response to the ongoing military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
North Korea’s continuation of its missile tests shows that the US-South Korean exercises do not discourage it from the US-South Korean exercises that it considers a rehearsal for invasion, although many experts indicate that the tests may also be part of North Korea’s larger goal to expand its arsenal of weapons, and obtain on international recognition. As a nuclear country and lift international sanctions.
The missile, which was launched from the northwestern region of Tongchangri in the north, flew across the country and landed in the sea off the east coast. According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile traveled a distance of about 500 miles. This range indicates that the missile could target South Korea.
Key nuclear envoys from South Korea, Japan and the United States have strongly condemned the missile launch as a provocation that threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. In a phone call, they agreed to step up coordination between them to send a firm international response to North Korea’s testing activity, according to the foreign ministry in Seoul.
North Korea says ICBM launch was a ‘warning’
North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday. (KCNA/Korea News Service via AP)
South Korea’s military said its joint exercises with the United States would continue and that it would be ready to respond to any provocation from North Korea. During Sunday’s exercise, the United States flew at least one long-range B-1B bomber for joint air training with South Korean warplanes, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.
North Korea is concerned about the deployment of B-1Bs, which are capable of carrying a large conventional weapons payload. The country had responded to the B-1B flights in February by test firing missiles to ranges that showed they could reach some of South Korea’s military air bases.
According to Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Toshiro Inoue, the missile fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. He said there were no reports of damage to ships or aircraft in the area and that the missile likely showed an irregular trajectory, a possible reference to North Korea’s maneuverable, nuclear-capable KN-23 missile.
The US Indo-Pacific Command said Sunday’s launch did not pose a direct threat to the US homeland or its allies. But she said North Korea’s recent launches highlight the “destabilizing impact of its illegal weapons programs” and that the US security commitment to South Korea and Japan remains “unwavering”.
The launch was North Korea’s third round of weapons tests since the United States and South Korea began their joint military exercises on Monday. The exercises include computer simulations and field exercises and are expected to continue until Thursday. The joint exercises are the largest of their kind since 2018.
In this photo provided by the South Korean Ministry of Defense, US Air Force B-1B bombers (lower left) fly in formation with South Korean Air Force F-35A and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets ( lower right) over the south. The Korean Peninsula during a joint air exercise in South Korea, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (South Korean Ministry of Defense via AP)
US-South Korea drill limits North Korea, Pentagon claims hours after North Korea launches ICBMs
North Korea recently tested weapons including its long-range Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the US mainland. According to state media, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the launch was made “to strike terror into enemies”.
Thursday’s launch, the North’s first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, drew fierce opposition from the South Korean, Japanese and US governments, as it took place just hours before South Korean President Yoon Sok-yul was due to head to Tokyo for a summit with the Japanese prime minister. Fumio Kishida.
During the summit, Yoon and Kishida agreed to resume talks on defense and enhance security cooperation with the United States to counter North Korea.
North Korea has missiles that put Japan within striking distance. In October, North Korea fired a medium-range missile into northern Japan, forcing local communities to issue evacuation alerts and stop trains.
US Air Force B-1B bombers fly in formation with South Korean Air Force F-35A and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets during a military exercise in South Korea, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (South Korean Ministry of Defense via AP)
Kishida issued a response to North Korea’s firing on Sunday that includes working closely with South Korea and the United States
North Korea also fired cruise missiles from a submarine the day before the start of the military exercises. According to North Korean state media, those missiles were evidence of its commitment to respond with “overwhelming” force to military exercises being conducted by the United States and South Korea.
The United States and South Korea plan to conduct more US aircraft carrier exercises later this month after the current drills end, suggesting that North Korea is likely to respond to those exercises with additional weapons tests.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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