In a display of force that matched a North Korean missile display one day earlier, the United States and South Korean militaries launched eight missiles into sea Monday. This was in response to a provocation in weapons demonstrations.
Live-fire exercises were conducted by the allies and involved eight Army Tactical Missile System (one American, seven South Korean) missiles that were launched into South Korea’s eastern seas. They were fired within 10 minutes of receiving notifications regarding air and maritime safety. Forces Korea.
According to the South Korean military, the tit-for–tat missile launches were launched to demonstrate the capability to quickly and accurately respond to North Korean attacks.
Sunday’s South Korean military observation showed that North Korea fired eight short-range missiles in 35 minutes over four locations. This was a record-setting single-day for country’s ballistic launch records.
This was North Korea’s 18th round in missile tests in 2022, which included its first launch of intercontinental missiles in almost five years. Officials in the United States and South Korea also claim that North Korea is planning to conduct its first nuclear testing since September 2017. This is because Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, pushes for a brinkmanship which aims at establishing the North as a nuclear power and negotiating security and economic concessions from a position where they are strong.
Following North Korea’s earlier ballistic launches on May 25th, the U.S. and South Korean forces held a similar live fire exercise. South Korea’s military claimed that it involved an ICBM flying on a medium-range trajectory with two short-range weapons and one ICBM. These tests were part of Biden’s trip to South Korea, Japan and Japan. He reaffirmed America’s commitment to protect both allies.
Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korean President, stated Monday that his government will pursue “fundamental security capabilities” in an address to mark the country’s Memorial Day. This is to counter North Korea’s growing nuclear weapons threat.
Yoon stated that North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programs are now a serious threat to the Korean Peninsula and to Northeast Asia. He also said that his government will “sternly react” to any North Korean provocations.
Yoon, a conservative, was elected to office in May. He has pledged to increase the defense of the South in tandem with its alliance with America. His goals include increasing missile strike and interception capability and resuming large scale military exercises with the United States. These were either suspended or reduced in recent years to make space for diplomacy or because of Covid-19.
Moon Jae-in Moon Jae-in’s timid predecessor, Yoon, had placed his five-year term on interKorean engagement. However, Moon Jae in, who had placed his faith in inter-Korean relations, resisted missile counter-drills when North Korea resumed missile testing in 2019. This was after its diplomatic efforts with the United States failed.
The launches of Sunday have not been reported by the North Korean state media. The launches came just after the U.S.-based aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan completed a three day naval drill in the Philippine Sea on Saturday. This was apparently their first joint drill in that area since November 2017. As the two countries seek to improve their defense exercises against North Korean threats,
The United States has pledged to press for international sanctions in the event of North Korea’s nuclear test. However, the prospects of meaningful new punitive actions are slim due to the disintegration among permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Russia and China vetoed the U.S. sponsored resolution, which would have placed additional sanctions on North Korea for its recent ballistic test on May 25. They argued that Washington should focus on restarting negotiations with Pyongyang.
Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, addressed the growing animosity and asked that related countries “maintain calm, exercise restraint and avoid any actions which may aggravate tensions.”
Since 2019, nuclear talks between Washington, Pyongyang and Iran have been stalled due to disagreements over exchanging crippling U.S. sanctions for North’s disarmament efforts.
Kim is not willing to give up his arsenal, which he considers his best guarantee of survival, despite facing severe challenges at home, such as a declining economy and a Covid9 epidemic.
