{"id":4138,"date":"2023-02-20T12:26:39","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T12:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londonpost.news\/?p=4138"},"modified":"2023-03-23T18:39:44","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T18:39:44","slug":"north-korea-fires-two-missiles-in-test-condemned-by-neighbors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/analysis\/defense\/north-korea-fires-two-missiles-in-test-condemned-by-neighbors\/2023\/02\/20\/admin1\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea fires two missiles in test condemned by neighbors"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEOUL,<\/span> South<\/span> Korea<\/span> (AP)<\/span> –<\/span>\u00a0North<\/span> Korea<\/span> on<\/span> Monday<\/span> test-fired<\/span> two<\/span> short-range<\/span> ballistic<\/span> missiles<\/span> into<\/span> its<\/span> east<\/span> sea<\/span> for<\/span> the<\/span> second<\/span> time<\/span> in<\/span> three<\/span> days,<\/span> prompting<\/span> Japan<\/span> to<\/span> request<\/span> an<\/span> urgent<\/span> UN<\/span> Security<\/span> Council<\/span> meeting.<\/span>\u00a0
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>South<\/span> Korea’s<\/span> military<\/span> said<\/span> it<\/span> detected<\/span> two<\/span> missile<\/span> launches<\/span> from<\/span> a<\/span> city<\/span> on<\/span> North<\/span> Korea’s<\/span> west<\/span> coast<\/span> on<\/span> Monday<\/span> morning,<\/span> later<\/span> confirmed<\/span> by<\/span> official<\/span> North<\/span> Korean<\/span> media.<\/span> It<\/span> landed<\/span> in<\/span> waters<\/span> outside<\/span> its<\/span> economic<\/span> zone<\/span> and<\/span> flew<\/span> a<\/span> distance<\/span> suggesting<\/span> much<\/span> of<\/span> South<\/span> Korea<\/span> was<\/span> within<\/span> range,<\/span> although<\/span> it<\/span> said<\/span> no<\/span> damage<\/span> had<\/span> been<\/span> reported<\/span> to<\/span> aircraft<\/span> or<\/span> ships<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> area.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>South<\/span> Korea<\/span> and<\/span> Japan<\/span> have<\/span> accused<\/span> North<\/span> Korea’s<\/span> recent<\/span> launches<\/span> of<\/span> being<\/span> a<\/span> threat<\/span> to<\/span> world<\/span> peace<\/span> and<\/span> of<\/span> violating<\/span> UN<\/span> Security<\/span> Council<\/span> resolutions<\/span> banning<\/span> North<\/span> Korea’s<\/span> ballistic<\/span> activities.<\/span> Japanese<\/span> Prime<\/span> Minister<\/span> Fumio<\/span> Kishida<\/span> told<\/span> reporters<\/span> that<\/span> Tokyo<\/span> was<\/span> requesting<\/span> an<\/span> emergency<\/span> Security<\/span> Council<\/span> meeting<\/span> to<\/span> respond<\/span> to<\/span> recent<\/span> North<\/span> Korean<\/span> launches.<\/span> The<\/span> Security<\/span> Council<\/span> is<\/span> unlikely<\/span> to<\/span> take<\/span> further<\/span> action<\/span> against<\/span> North<\/span> Korea.<\/span> China<\/span> and<\/span> Russia,<\/span> which<\/span> have<\/span> veto<\/span> powers<\/span> involved<\/span> in<\/span> the<\/span> conflict<\/span> with<\/span> Washington,<\/span> have<\/span> resisted<\/span> US-led<\/span> attempts<\/span> to<\/span> impose<\/span> new<\/span> sanctions<\/span> over<\/span> the<\/span> past<\/span> year.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>She<\/span> probably<\/span> flew<\/span> the<\/span> B-1B<\/span> long-range<\/span> supersonic<\/span> bomber<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States<\/span> on<\/span> Sunday<\/span> for<\/span> separate<\/span> exercises<\/span> with<\/span> South<\/span> Korea<\/span> and<\/span> Japan<\/span> in<\/span> response<\/span> to<\/span> North<\/span> Korea’s<\/span> intercontinental<\/span> ballistic<\/span> missile<\/span> test<\/span> on<\/span> Saturday.<\/span>\u00a0
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>North<\/span> Korea<\/span> typically<\/span> responds<\/span> to<\/span> the<\/span> US’s<\/span> B-1B<\/span> flights,<\/span> which<\/span> can<\/span> carry<\/span> large<\/span> amounts<\/span> of<\/span> conventional<\/span> weapons,<\/span> with<\/span> offensive<\/span> statements<\/span> and<\/span> its<\/span> own<\/span> military<\/span> demonstrations.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>In<\/span> a<\/span> statement<\/span> on<\/span> Sunday,<\/span> Kim<\/span> Yo<\/span> Jong<\/span> threatened<\/span> to<\/span> take<\/span> more<\/span> “strong”<\/span> measures<\/span> in<\/span> light<\/span> of<\/span> upcoming<\/span> military<\/span> exercises<\/span> between<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States<\/span> and<\/span> South<\/span> Korea.<\/span> North<\/span> Korea<\/span> said<\/span> many<\/span> of<\/span> its<\/span> previous<\/span> weapons<\/span> tests<\/span> were<\/span> warnings<\/span> about<\/span> US-South<\/span> Korea<\/span> military<\/span> exercises.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>South<\/span> Korean<\/span> and<\/span> U.S.<\/span> militaries<\/span> responded<\/span> to<\/span> escalating<\/span> missile<\/span> tests<\/span> this<\/span> year<\/span> and<\/span> conducted<\/span> larger<\/span> and<\/span> more<\/span> frequent<\/span> drills<\/span> as<\/span> concerns<\/span> about<\/span> COVID-19<\/span> receded.<\/span> The<\/span> two<\/span> services<\/span> are<\/span> scheduled<\/span> to<\/span> hold<\/span> a<\/span> tabletop<\/span> exercise<\/span> this<\/span> week<\/span> to<\/span> improve<\/span> their<\/span> joint<\/span> response<\/span> to<\/span> North<\/span> Korea’s<\/span> use<\/span> of<\/span> nuclear<\/span> weapons.<\/span> The<\/span> allies<\/span> also<\/span> plan<\/span> to<\/span> conduct<\/span> joint<\/span> computer<\/span> simulation<\/span> exercises<\/span> and<\/span> field<\/span> training<\/span> in<\/span> March.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>North<\/span> Korea<\/span> has<\/span> repeatedly<\/span> condemned<\/span> the<\/span> ongoing<\/span> conflict<\/span> between<\/span> South<\/span> Korea<\/span> and<\/span> the<\/span> United<\/span> States.<\/span> Military<\/span> training<\/span> is<\/span> conducted<\/span> as<\/span> training<\/span> for<\/span> aggression,<\/span> but<\/span> allies<\/span> say<\/span> their<\/span> training<\/span> is<\/span> defensive<\/span> in<\/span> nature.<\/span> Some<\/span> observers<\/span> say<\/span> North<\/span> Korea<\/span> often<\/span> uses<\/span> rival<\/span> exercises<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> pretext<\/span> to<\/span> test<\/span> and<\/span> improve<\/span> its<\/span> weapons<\/span> systems.<\/span> Many<\/span> experts<\/span> believe<\/span> that<\/span> North<\/span> Korea<\/span> plans<\/span> to<\/span> eventually<\/span> be<\/span> recognized<\/span> internationally<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> legal<\/span> nuclear<\/span> power<\/span> in<\/span> order<\/span> to<\/span> lift<\/span> international<\/span> sanctions<\/span> and<\/span> receive<\/span> other<\/span> outside<\/span> concessions.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The<\/span> US<\/span> Indo-Pacific<\/span> Command<\/span> said<\/span> the<\/span> new<\/span> launches<\/span> highlighted<\/span> the<\/span> “destabilizing<\/span> effect”<\/span> of<\/span> North<\/span> Korea’s<\/span> illegal<\/span> weapons<\/span> programme.<\/span> He<\/span> said<\/span> the<\/span> US<\/span> commitment<\/span> to<\/span> defending<\/span> South<\/span> Korea<\/span> and<\/span> Japan<\/span> was<\/span> “unwavering.”<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>North<\/span> Korea<\/span> said<\/span> the<\/span> tests<\/span> included<\/span> a<\/span> new<\/span> 600mm<\/span> multiple<\/span> rocket<\/span> launch<\/span> system<\/span> capable<\/span> of<\/span> equipping<\/span> it<\/span> with<\/span> “tactical”<\/span> nuclear<\/span> weapons<\/span> for<\/span> use<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> battlefield.<\/span> South<\/span> Korean<\/span> defense<\/span> officials<\/span> describe<\/span> the<\/span> weapon<\/span> system<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> short-range<\/span> ballistic<\/span> missile.<\/span> The<\/span> official<\/span> KCNA<\/span> news<\/span> agency<\/span> said<\/span> the<\/span> tests<\/span> simulated<\/span> attacks<\/span> on<\/span> targets<\/span> up<\/span> to<\/span> 395<\/span> kilometers<\/span> (245<\/span> miles)<\/span> away.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Japan<\/span> and<\/span> South<\/span> Korea<\/span> estimate<\/span> that<\/span> North<\/span> Korean<\/span> missiles<\/span> flew<\/span> at<\/span> maximum<\/span> altitudes<\/span> of<\/span> 50<\/span> to<\/span> 100<\/span> kilometers<\/span> (30<\/span> to<\/span> 60<\/span> miles)<\/span> and<\/span> ranges<\/span> of<\/span> 340<\/span> to<\/span> 400<\/span> kilometers<\/span> (210<\/span> to<\/span> 250<\/span> miles).<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Although<\/span> North<\/span> Korea<\/span> claims<\/span> to<\/span> have<\/span> missiles<\/span> capable<\/span> of<\/span> striking<\/span> both<\/span> the<\/span> U.S.<\/span> mainland<\/span> and<\/span> South<\/span> Korea<\/span> with<\/span> nuclear<\/span> weapons,<\/span> many<\/span> foreign<\/span> experts<\/span> believe<\/span> North<\/span> Korea<\/span> is<\/span> capable<\/span> of<\/span> several<\/span> measures,<\/span> including<\/span> manufacturing<\/span> warheads<\/span> small<\/span> enough<\/span> to<\/span> carry.<\/span> He<\/span> says<\/span> he<\/span> hasn’t<\/span> mastered<\/span> the<\/span> important<\/span> skills<\/span> yet.<\/span> Mounted<\/span> on<\/span> missiles,<\/span> it<\/span> ensures<\/span> that<\/span> these<\/span> warheads<\/span> survive<\/span> re-entry<\/span> into<\/span> the<\/span> atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) –\u00a0North Korea on Monday test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles into its east sea for the second time in three days, prompting Japan to request an urgent UN Security Council meeting.\u00a0 South Korea’s military said it detected two missile launches from a city on North Korea’s west coast on Monday morning, later […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":""},"categories":[26,276,2425,2428,2480],"tags":[1030,1138,104,150,546],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/kor.webp","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4138"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4138"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4192,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4138\/revisions\/4192"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brusselsindependent.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}