After Resuming Trade With China, North Korea Fires Another 2 Ballistic Missiles

North Korea missile test, Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

Mitch Shin

Commentaries and Op-eds January, 2022

Introduction:

North Korea fired two missiles eastward from Sunan Airfield in Pyongyang on Monday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The missiles – suspected to be short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) were launched at 8:50 a.m. and 8:54 a.m. Korea Standard Time (KST), respectively, and flew about 380 km at a maximum altitude of 42 km, the JCS said.

Today’s missile test came three days after North Korea tested two railway-borne SRBMs on January 14, and marked the North’s fourth missile test in less than two weeks. North Korea also launched what it called hypersonic missiles on January 5 and January 11.

South Korea’s JCS said it is analyzing more details on the type and performance of the latest missiles with the U.S. military. Based on the information released by the JCS so far, the missiles could be North Korea’s KN-23, KN-24, or KN-25 missiles.

North Korea has not yet published any information on the performance of the missiles. Based on previous launches, state media will likely publish detailed information on the missile tests around 6-7 a.m. KST on Tuesday.

South Korea’s National Security Council held an emergency meeting hours after North Korea launched the two “apparent” SRBMs on Monday. In a statement after the meeting, the NSC called the North’s missile tests “very regrettable,” a slightly stronger response compared with its expression of “strong regret” after previous tests.

 

The full article is available on The Diplomat’s website.

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