North Korea's Missile Provocation After Two Days... Targeting 'Vulnerable Time' Again

Provocation Resumed with Cruise Missiles Two Days After the 22nd
Ballistic Missile Provocation Occurred Five Days After the 19th
Targeted Vulnerable Times: Dawn, Morning, Midnight...

North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea late at night on the 24th. This missile provocation came just two days after the cruise missile launch on the 22nd, and it has been five days since the ballistic missile launch on the 19th of this month. Some speculate that this is a reaction to the arrival of the US nuclear-powered submarine Annapolis (SSN-760) at the Jeju Naval Base, following the US strategic nuclear submarine Kentucky (SSBN-773).

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced to the Ministry of National Defense press corps that North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea at around 11:58 PM on the 24th. South Korean and US authorities are analyzing detailed specifications such as the missile type and flight distance.

North Korean Ballistic Missile Launch

North Korea's resumption of military demonstrations after two days is interpreted as a response to the arrival of the US Navy Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine Annapolis at the Jeju Naval Base. Unlike the Kentucky, which carries nuclear weapons, the Annapolis, which performs anti-ship and anti-submarine missions, does not carry nuclear weapons, but during the Cold War, it was equipped with nuclear warhead-capable Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine is not classified as a 'strategic asset' like the Ohio-class SSBN or nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines (SSGN). However, numerically, it forms the main body of US nuclear-powered submarines and participated in the trilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise between South Korea, the US, and Japan in the East Sea last September. Military authorities also evaluated that "it is more than sufficient to demonstrate the strength of the South Korea-US alliance."

The US Navy nuclear-powered submarine USS Annapolis (SSN-760) docked at Jeju Naval Base on the morning of the 24th, where crew members are loading military supplies.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 12th, North Korea test-fired the new solid-fuel-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-18' under the supervision of Kim Jong-un. Then, on the 19th, while the Kentucky was stationed at the Busan operational base, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) into the East Sea, and on the 22nd, several cruise missiles were launched into the West Sea. This appears to be an effort to heighten tensions ahead of the 70th anniversary of Victory Day on the 27th.

These series of provocations share the common feature of targeting vulnerable time periods. The two SRBMs fired on the 19th were launched at dawn, and the several cruise missiles on the 22nd were launched early on a weekend morning. The ballistic missile launch on this day was also carried out late at night, close to midnight. Military authorities believe North Korea is repeatedly choosing vulnerable times to threaten a 'surprise nuclear strike.'

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