North Korea fired a missile on Monday,is July, two short-range ballistic missiles, reported the South Korean army, the day after threats from Pyongyang, which warned against “fatal consequences” what the joint maneuvers conducted by Seoul and its allies could have.
A first short-range projectile was launched at 5:05 a.m. local time (10:05 p.m. Paris time), followed by a second ten minutes later, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. « The [premier] short-range ballistic missile traveled about 600 kilometers”the statement said, adding that the second had traveled 120 kilometers.
“Our military has increased surveillance and vigilance in preparation for new launches”said the same source, specifying that he had transmitted information on these incidents to the United States and Japan. ” Characteristics [de ces tirs] are currently under detailed analysis by South Korean and American authorities.”added the same source.
North Korea carried out these launches a few days after it claimed to have successfully tested a missile with multiple warheads, with South Korea assuring, for its part, that the projectile had exploded in flight.
Military maneuvers
On Sunday, Pyongyang described the joint military maneuvers led by South Korea, Japan and the United States as “Asian version of NATO”warning against “fatal consequences”.
The three-day military exercise, dubbed “Freedom Edge,” ran from Thursday to Sunday last week. It focused on air defense, undersea warfare and cyber defense, and was also designed to prepare for ballistic missile launches. The nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore-Rooseveltthe Japanese guided missile destroyer JS Atago and South Korean KF-16 fighter jets were deployed for the exercises.
Pyongyang systematically criticizes this type of military maneuver, which it considers intended to prepare for an invasion of its territory. Seoul rejected Pyongyang’s accusations on Sunday, stressing that these latest exercises were carried out as part of joint exercises regularly organized between the three allied countries. South Korea is worried about the rapprochement between the North and its isolated neighbor, Russia.
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Inter-Korean relations at rock bottom
North Korea is accused of violating arms control measures by supplying weapons to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine. 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. A major ruling party meeting is currently underway in North Korea, opened by Kim Jong-un, state media reported Saturday.
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“In North Korean 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 Mr Kim’s regime’s way of making up for recent failed tests and impressing the public at ruling party meetings.”he clarified, adding that “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 currently at their lowest point in years, with Pyongyang intensifying its weapons testing while sending trash-filled balloons to the South in retaliation for propaganda campaigns against the North Korean regime by Korea from South.
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