North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile into East Sea... Third Provocation under Yoon Administration (Comprehensive)

18th Armed Protest This Year
JCS Analyzing Specifications Such as Intersection and Altitude

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea fired a ballistic missile of an unidentified type into the East Sea on the 5th. This ballistic missile launch marks the third provocation since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the 18th show of force this year alone.

It has been only 11 days since North Korea fired three missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) believed to be the 'Hwasong-17' and a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) presumed to be the North Korean version of the Iskander (KN-23), on the 25th of last month. At that time, the provocation was carried out while U.S. President Joe Biden was returning home after his tour of South Korea and Japan.

North Korea also staged a show of force just one day after the South Korean and U.S. navies completed joint exercises near Okinawa, Japan, involving the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.

This year, North Korea has continued to escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula by launching ICBMs six times as of the 24th of last month. Early this year, it hinted at abandoning the moratorium on nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, and on March 24th, it broke the moratorium by launching an ICBM on a trajectory resembling that of a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM).

In particular, military authorities assess that North Korea has mostly completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test and only the timing decision by Chairman Kim Jong-un remains.

On the 21st of last month, President Yoon Suk-yeol and President Joe Biden agreed during their summit to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance and enhance the effectiveness of extended deterrence. Specifically, they agreed to reactivate the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG), deploy U.S. strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula, and expand South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises.

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