North Korea escalates tensions with missile launches post US‑South Korea military exercises
In a provocative move that has escalated tensions in the Korean Peninsula, North Korea resumed its missile testing regimen by firing multiple short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters early Monday morning. This action comes just days after the conclusion of the annual military drills between South Korea and the United States, which Pyongyang has long criticized as a rehearsal for invasion.
12:06 PM EDT, March 18, 2024
The missile launches mark North Korea's return to its testing activities after a month-long hiatus, underscoring a potentially strategic timing ahead of the U.S. presidential elections in November. Analysts had anticipated such a move, suggesting North Korea aims to amplify its bargaining power in future diplomatic negotiations through these displays of military might.
Japan's Defense Ministry reported that North Korea launched three missiles, with two fired simultaneously at 7:44 a.m. and a third launched approximately 37 minutes later. These missiles landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, thankfully outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, avoiding any direct harm or damage. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida strongly condemned these actions, highlighting them as a direct threat to regional peace and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions against North Korea's ballistic missile endeavors.
Echoing Japan's concerns, South Korea's military also detected the missile launches, labeling them a "clear provocation" that jeopardizes the delicate peace on the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized the nation's preparedness to counter any North Korean provocations, underlining the strength of the U.S.-South Korea military alliance.
According to assessments by Japan and South Korea, the missiles were launched from North Korea's capital region, covering distances of 300-350 kilometers at speeds reaching up to 50 kilometers per hour. This development has drawn sharp criticism from the U.S. State Department, which denounced the launches as threats to regional security and reaffirmed the United States' unwavering commitment to defending its allies, South Korea and Japan.
The recent missile tests contrast with North Korea's restraint during the South Korean military drills, which concluded last Thursday. These exercises, aimed at enhancing the allies' defensive capabilities, saw North Korean leader Kim Jong Un overseeing his military drills, emphasizing the need for heightened war readiness.
Sources: Reuters; TNYT; WashingtonPost
