North Korea has launched its first ballistic missile in two months, flying 1,100km into the sea, amidst significant political agitation in South Korea and diplomatic discussions involving US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
North Korea Launches Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile Amid Political Turmoil
North Korea Launches Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile Amid Political Turmoil
The missile launch coincides with high-profile talks in Seoul, marking Pyongyang's first such action in two months.
North Korea has conducted its first missile launch in two months, firing what is believed to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile towards the waters off its eastern coast, according to South Korea’s military. The missile traveled approximately 1,100 kilometers prior to landing in the sea, prompting the South Korean military to "strongly condemn" this demonstration as a blatant act of provocation.
This launch occurs during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to South Korea, where he is engaged in discussions with key South Korean leaders. Earlier on the same day, Blinken met with the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, reaffirming the alliance between Washington and Seoul as a "cornerstone of peace and stability" for the Korean Peninsula.
In response to the missile launch, South Korea’s military has heightened its surveillance of potential future launches from the North and is in close communication with the US and Japan regarding the developments.
The missile test comes at a particularly chaotic time in South Korean politics, following the suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces impeachment and possible arrest due to attempts to impose martial law. Yoon's maneuvers have drawn criticism, and North Korea has derided his efforts as indicative of a dictatorial regime, labeling them "insane acts."
Previously, the last recorded missile launch from North Korea was in November, which took place just before the US presidential elections. This recent display of aggression follows a period in which the US conducted joint military exercises with both South Korea and Japan, involving the deployment of long-range bombers, which elicited strong reactions from Pyongyang, including harsh words from Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong.
As tensions persist on the Korean Peninsula, the international community remains alert to North Korea's military activities and the implications they may hold.
