After Resuming Trade With China, North Korea Fires Another 2 Ballistic Missiles
Mitch Shin
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.
Related Publications
-
North Korea Likely to Lift Pandemic Border Restrictions in 2023
Abstract In his speech at the Workers’ Party at the end of December 2022, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stressed that 2023 is the third year of key […]
-
With New Law on Nuclear Forces Policy, North Korea Says Its Nuclear Status Is ‘Irreversible’
Introduction: A day before the 74th anniversary of the country’s founding, North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un publicly declared that his nuclear weapons are no longer a bargaining chip […]
-
North Korea Denounces Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan
Introduction: North Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson denounced the visit of Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to Taiwan on Wednesday. “The current situation clearly shows that […]
-
From Europe, Yoon Suk Yeol Calls for International Cooperation on North Korea’s Nuclear and Missile Threats
Introduction: The leaders of the United States, South Korea, and Japan met in Madrid on Wednesday. Held on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meetings this week, the trilateral […]
-
Korean Peninsula Tensions Escalate Amid a Return to Old School Policies
Introduction: South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin met his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken on Monday in Washington, D.C. The meeting came three weeks after a summit meeting in Seoul between […]
-
North Korea Threats Make Engaging Quad a Risk Worth Taking for South Korea
Introduction: For much of the past decade, South Korea was inclined to play a balancing act between the U.S. and China while keeping its foreign policy energy primarily focused on […]