The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea said that the missile, which was fired from a location near North Korea capital, flew approximately 270 km (168 miles) eastward at an altitude of 560 kilometers (348 mi) before landing in waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula. The missile’s launch was being closely monitored by U.S. intelligence officials and South Korean officials.
This was North Korea’s ninth round in weapons testing in 2022. It continues to use diplomacy to expand military capabilities and to press the Biden administration to make concessions.
The details of the flight were roughly in line with an earlier assessment made by the Japanese military. They also resembled the launch from North Korea last Sunday, which was also carried out from the Sunan region near Pyongyang.
According to North Korean media, the launch was intended to test a camera systemit intends to install on a spy satellite.
Nobuo Kishi, Japanese Defense Minister, stated that the missile was launched just as Russia invaded Ukraine. He also said that it happened in the middle the Beijing Paralympics. To respond to the launch, he cancelled his appearance at a graduation ceremony of a military academy and called it “absolutely unacceptable.”
According to the U.S. Indo Pacific Command, the launch was not a threat to U.S. personnel and territory or those of its allies. It urged North Korea not to launch any further destabilizing actions and stated that it was in close consultation with Japan and South Korea as well as other regional allies, partners and partners regarding the launch.
Seoul officials convened an emergency National Security Council meeting to call on North Korea not to take further tensions given the international crisis caused by Russia’s invasion Ukraine and South Korea’s presidential election.
They pledged to work more closely with the United States in dealing with the North Korean threat, and to monitor its missile and nuclear facilities.
As South Koreans waited in line Saturday morning to vote early ahead of Wednesday’s presidential election, the launch occurred. The two major candidates disagree on whether South Korea should maintain engagement with the belligerent North, or take a more aggressive line in order to stop its nuclear threat.
Lee Jae-myung (the candidate for the ruling centre-left party) criticized the launch, but reiterated his commitment for dialogue. He made a Facebook statement stating that he would not tolerate tension-raising actions, but did not specify how he would respond.
Other tests by the North this year included a hypersonic missile launch and a first launch of an intermediate-range missile since 2017, which could reach Guam, a key U.S. military base in the Pacific.
Analysts believe that North Korea may up the ante and resume testing major weapons such as intercontinental missiles. This is in an effort to make a difference with Washington, which is currently preoccupied by Russia’s invasion and competition with China.
“The (Kim Jong Un’s) regime might be unhappy about Washington co-ordinating global efforts against Russian aggression, and disappointed by Seoul’s inward focus before the South Korean presidential elections,” stated Leif Eric Easley, a professor in international studies at Ewha University.
“But North Korea doesn’t just test missiles to attract international attention. Easley said that Pyongyang’s priorities right now are domestic politics and military modernization.
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called a Workers Party conference. Politburo members made a veiled threat of resuming nuclear device and ICBM tests. Kim had unilaterally suspended them in 2018 to make way for diplomacy with Donald Trump.
Negotiations have been stalled ever since North Korea rejected the Americans’ request for significant sanctions relief in return for the dismantling of an aging nuclear facility. This would have meant that it was only partially releasing its nuclear capabilities.
Although the Biden administration offered to talk to Pyongyang, it has not shown any willingness to provide badly needed economic benefits unless Pyongyang takes concrete steps to reduce its nuclear weapons program.
According to the North, it claims it is testing spy satellite camera systems. This suggests that it could conduct a long-range rocket test disguised in a space launch. It would be able to improve its weaponry and exert more pressure on Washington.
Analysts predict that North Korea will launch an unmanned rocket carrying a satellite before a significant political anniversary in April. This is the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the late grandfather to Kim Jong Un.
