Into the Turbulence of Korean Peninsula Affairs... North Korea Provoked During Every Regime Change Period

ICBM Launch Confirmed Just 15 Days After Election Victory

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Korean Peninsula was thrown into turmoil on the 24th as North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). North Korea has carried out provocations during every regime transition.

Fifteen days after the presidential election, North Korea launched an ICBM, signaling a challenging inter-Korean relationship even before President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's inauguration. Despite warnings from both South Korea and the United States, North Korea conducted a high-intensity provocation. President-elect Yoon declared a "principled response" toward North Korea and is likely to strengthen cooperation with the United States and Japan.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched one long-range ballistic missile, presumed to be an ICBM, into the East Sea at around 2:34 p.m. that day. While North Korea had repeatedly conducted short-range ballistic missile test launches, it had kept its promise to suspend nuclear tests and ICBM launches declared in April 2018, but ultimately crossed that line.

President Moon Jae-in condemned the act at an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting held at the Blue House, stating, "Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, has unilaterally broken the moratorium on intercontinental ballistic missile launches promised to the international community."

Concerns are also emerging that the situation on the Korean Peninsula may regress to the level of military tension seen five years ago, triggered by the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and the birthday of Kim Il-sung (April 15).

North Korea has repeatedly provoked during regime transitions. Shortly after the Moon Jae-in administration began in May 2017, Kim Jong-un launched medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM) such as the Hwasong-12 and the Pukguksong-2.

In July of the same year, North Korea launched the ICBM-class Hwasong-14.

In February 2013, just 13 days before former President Park Geun-hye's inauguration, North Korea conducted its third nuclear test. During the Lee Myung-bak administration, about a month after the term began, on March 28, 2008, North Korea launched a short-range missile into the West Sea. On February 24, 2003, one day before the Roh Moo-hyun administration took office, North Korea conducted a missile test launch into the East Sea.

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