SEOUL – North Korea fired 2 short-range suspected ballistic missiles from a region close to Pyongyang’s international airport on Monday, making its fourth test fire in a month.
With the fourth missile launched from the country’s capital city that covered 236 miles before landing on the east coast, tensions rose in the Korean peninsula, said the South Korean military.
“North Korea fired on Monday what could be a ballistic missile in what would be the fourth test this month as Pyongyang forges ahead with new military developments amid stalled talks with the United States and South Korea. #NorthKorea”, The Jerusalem Post Tweeted.
Key Facts:
- South Korea’s military detected 2 ballistic missiles of short-range launched from the Sunan international airport and flew 380 kilometers, reported the Yonhap News Agency.
- Nobuo Kishi, the Japanese Defense Minister, also confirmed the detection of missile launch, as he called it, “a grave problem for the international community,” which landed just on the border of Japan’s core economic zone.
- Moon Jae-in, the president of South Korea, who is soon visiting UAE, ordered actions to ensure stability and discipline in the country, his office revealed in a statement.
- South Korea’s National Security Council members have asked to resume the stalled nuclear discussions with Pyongyang.
In response to the latest act, the U.S. military’s Indo-Pacific Command, stated, “While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies, these missile launches highlight the destabilizing impact of the DPRK’s illicit weapons program.”
The latest missile test-launched by North Korea made it evident that the country pays no regard to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, according to which it is prohibited to launch Ballistic missiles.
Monday’s missile test has raised tensions as China prepares to organize Winter Olympics this month in Beijing and South Korea gears up for its presidential elections in March.
After six months of break, North Korea continued launching test missiles in September. Since then, the country has fired a minimum of six missiles including, a long-range strategic cruise missile, a submarine-launched ballistic missile, and ballistic missiles launched from train cars from mountain tunnels.
In response to the recent missile launches, the United States sanctioned 5 North Koreans in Russia and China who have been working in procuring materials for North Korea’s missile programs and nuclear weapons.
“The United States on Wednesday condemned North Korea’s firing of a suspected ballistic missile and urged Pyongyang to sit down for talks.” AFP News Agency Tweeted.
