North Korea carried out two short-range ballistic missile launches on Monday, one of which failed, the South Korean military reported, a day after Pyongyang warned of the “fatal consequences” that could result from joint exercises by Seoul and its allies.
A first short-range projectile was launched at 05:05 local time (20:05 GMT), followed by a second ten minutes later, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
“The (first) short-range ballistic missile traveled about 600 kilometers”specifies the press release, adding that the second traveled 120 kilometers.
“One of the missiles, which failed, may have flown abnormally, and we cannot exclude that it fell to the ground”the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement.
According to Lee Sung-jun, the spokesperson for the General Staff, if the missile exploded in mid-flight, debris could have landed in North Korea, based on the trajectory observed.
“Our army has strengthened surveillance in anticipation of other launches”declared the same source, specifying that it had transmitted information on these incidents to the United States and Japan.
North Korea is accused of violating several UN resolutions by supplying weapons to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine.
Seoul is worried about a rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea in June to meet with leader Kim Jong Un and the two countries signed a mutual defense agreement.
Asked whether the latest launch was a test of missiles aimed at Russia, the General Staff spokesman declined to comment.
These shots come a few days after North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a missile with multiple warheads, South Korea for its part ensuring that the projectile had exploded in flight.
On Sunday, Pyongyang denounced the joint military exercises conducted by South Korea, Japan and the United States, calling the alliance “the Asian version of NATO” and warning of “fatal consequences.”
The three-day military drills, dubbed “Freedom Edge,” ran from Thursday to Sunday last week. They focused on air defense, undersea warfare and cyber defense, and were also intended to prepare for ballistic missile launches.
The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Japanese guided-missile destroyer JS Atago and South Korean KF-16 fighter jet were deployed for the exercises.
“Don’t appear weak”
Pyongyang systematically criticizes this type of military maneuvers which it considers intended to prepare for an invasion of its territory.
Seoul rejected Pyongyang’s accusations on Sunday, stressing that the latest drills were part of regular joint exercises between the three allied countries.
A major ruling party meeting is being held in North Korea, opened by leader Kim Jong Un, state media said Saturday.
“In North Korea policy as in military policy, the best defense is often a good offense,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.
“These missile launches are probably the Kim regime’s way of making up for recent failed tests and impressing the population at ruling party meetings”he also said, adding: “Pyongyang is also determined not to appear weak as South Korea conducts military exercises with Japan and the United States”.
Relations between the two Koreas are at their lowest in years, with Pyongyang stepping up weapons testing and sending balloons filled with trash toward the South in retaliation for South Korea’s propaganda campaigns against the North Korean regime.
korea missile north korea
