[Summary] North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles into the East Sea

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea. This marks 12 days since North Korea last launched a super-large multiple rocket launcher on the 9th.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 21st, "Our military detected two projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Pyonganbuk-do area toward the East Sea this morning."

North Korea also launched a super-large multiple rocket launcher on the 2nd. Up to this date, there have been three short-range projectile launches in total. The super-large multiple rocket launcher fired on the 9th was detected with a 20-second interval between the first and second launches, and more than a one-minute interval between the second and third launches. During the launch on the 2nd, the interval between the first and second launches was analyzed to be 20 seconds. South Korean and U.S. military authorities are currently conducting a detailed analysis of the range, altitude, and other specifications of this North Korean projectile.

Military and government officials are reportedly focusing on the possibility that the launch involved a super-large multiple rocket launcher while analyzing the type of projectile. North Korea’s super-large multiple rocket launcher has flight distance and maximum altitude very similar to those of short-range ballistic missiles. It is suggested that North Korea may have recently conducted performance tests of rapid-fire capabilities for the super-large multiple rocket launcher in two consecutive launches.

North Korea announced that Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, supervised an artillery firing competition of the Western Front Combined Unit the day before, indicating that this launch might be part of that exercise.

Korean Central News Agency reported that on the 20th, Kim Jong-un supervised the artillery firing competition of the Western Front Combined Unit and instructed the strengthening of artillery unit training in accordance with the situation. Amid the emergency measures in North Korea to prevent the influx of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), declared a pandemic, Kim has been observing and directing military exercises daily since the end of last month.

The agency stated, "Comrade Kim Jong-un supervised the artillery firing competition of the Korean People's Army Western Front Combined Units on March 20," noting that artillery units under the 3rd Corps, 4th Corps, and 8th Corps participated in the competition. All three corps are stationed on the western front; the 4th Corps is headquartered in Haeju, Hwanghae Nam-do, near the Demilitarized Zone, and is known to have led the Yeonpyeong Island shelling. The 3rd Corps is stationed in Nampo Special City, defending the capital Pyongyang, and the 8th Corps is stationed in Yangdeok, Pyongan Nam-do.

Meanwhile, Robert Abrams, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, revealed that the North Korean military had been under lockdown for about 30 days due to COVID-19. He also expressed "quite a confidence" that confirmed cases had occurred in North Korea. This was the first time a senior U.S. military official publicly acknowledged the possibility of COVID-19 outbreaks in North Korea.

In a virtual press briefing on the 13th, Commander Abrams said regarding North Korean military movements, "What I know is that their military was essentially locked down for about 30 days and has only recently resumed routine training." He added, "They did not fly any aircraft for 24 days but have returned to training sorties."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.