Rocket went 1,000km, says South Korea, after Kim Jong-un’s sister threatened ‘shocking’ consequences for alleged US spy plane flights.
North Korea, a country in East Asia, launched a ballistic missile towards Japan on Wednesday. This information was reported by South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff. The missile was fired from North Korea’s east coast and flew a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) before landing in the water. The military of South Korea provided this information. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary stated that the missile fell about 250 kilometers west of Okushiri island in Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan. The missile’s flight lasted for 74 minutes and reached an altitude of over 6,000 kilometers.
Interestingly, this missile launch coincided with a rare trilateral meeting between the top US general and his counterparts from South Korea and Japan in Hawaii. The launch occurred just after the conclusion of the meeting, which had been planned for a considerable period. The United States has been encouraging South Korea and Japan, two neighboring countries with a history of strained relations, to collaborate more closely in order to effectively address the increasing threats posed by China and North Korea. Disputes arising from Japan’s occupation of Korea between 1910 and 1945 have contributed to the strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo.
Experts speculate that North Korea might have tested a developmental missile known as the Hwasong-18 ICBM. This type of missile uses solid fuel, making it more difficult to detect and intercept compared to North Korea’s other ICBMs that use liquid fuel. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has previously described the Hwasong-18 as the most powerful nuclear weapon in their arsenal. Both South Korean and Japanese assessments indicate that the missile was launched at a high angle, possibly to minimize its impact on neighboring countries.
The recent missile launch is the twelfth conducted by North Korea this year. In April, the regime test-fired its first-ever solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. Then, at the end of May, North Korea made an unsuccessful attempt to launch what they claimed to be their first-ever spy satellite using a new launch vehicle. South Korea has recently announced that they retrieved the wreckage of the satellite from the ocean, concluding that it does not serve any military purpose as a reconnaissance satellite.
The timing of this missile launch follows a series of complaints made by North Korea regarding US military activities. The North Korean government accused American spy planes of violating their airspace in economic zones and strongly criticized the visit of an American nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine to South Korea. Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un, made threatening remarks, suggesting that there would be “shocking” consequences as a result of US reconnaissance activities. The United States and South Korea dismissed these accusations and called on North Korea to avoid any actions or rhetoric that could escalate tensions.
It is important to note that North Korea’s use of ballistic missile technology, including for satellite launches, is prohibited by resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Consequently, the Security Council, along with several countries, has imposed sanctions on North Korea in response to its missile and nuclear weapons programs.
Analysts have observed commercial satellite imagery that indicates North Korea is preparing to stage displays of military force, potentially including a large parade. This event is expected to take place on July 27th, which commemorates North Korea’s claim of victory in the 1950-53 Korean War against the United States, South Korea, and their allies.
In 2022, North Korea launched more than 90 missiles – the most it has ever fired in a single year to date – despite being subject to a raft of sanctions from the UN, the US, the EU and its neighbouring countries.
North Korea has become more assertive in its nuclear strategy under Kim Jong-un, who has overseen much of its recent development of its weapons programme, and four of the six nuclear tests so far.
