North Korea Provokes Again Targeting 'Vulnerable Time'... US Nuclear Submarine Responds (Comprehensive)

JCS "North Korea Fires 2 SRBMs into East Sea"
Targeted Vulnerable Times: Dawn, Morning, Midnight
In Response to US Nuclear-Powered Submarine's Entry into Jeju

North Korea once again targeted a vulnerable time window to launch ballistic missiles into the East Sea in a surprise attack. This missile provocation by North Korea 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. There are also observations that this is a backlash against 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).

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 25th, the military authorities detected two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) launched by North Korea from the Pyongyang area into the East Sea between 11:55 PM and midnight on the 24th. South Korean and US authorities are analyzing detailed specifications such as the type and flight distance of the ballistic missiles fired by North Korea.

North Korea's Kim Jong-un

North Korea's resumption of military demonstrations after two days is interpreted as a countermeasure against the arrival of the US Navy’s 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 in the past during the Cold War, it was equipped with nuclear warhead-capable Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarines are not classified as 'strategic assets' like the Ohio-class SSBNs or nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines (SSGNs). However, numerically, they form the main body of US nuclear-powered submarines and participated in the trilateral anti-submarine warfare exercise among South Korea, the US, and Japan in the East Sea international waters last September. Military authorities also evaluated that "there is nothing lacking in demonstrating the solidity of the South Korea-US alliance."

Naval personnel are welcoming the US LA-class nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) USS Annapolis, which arrived at Jeju Naval Base on the 24th.
[Photo by the Navy]

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, when the Kentucky was stationed at the Busan operational base, North Korea fired two SRBMs into the East Sea, and on the 22nd, multiple 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.

In particular, these series of provocations share the commonality of targeting 'vulnerable time windows.' The two SRBMs fired on the 19th were launched at dawn, and the multiple cruise missiles on the 22nd were launched early on a weekend morning. The ballistic missile launch on this day was also at a late night time close to midnight. Military authorities view this as North Korea repeatedly choosing vulnerable time windows to threaten a 'surprise nuclear strike.'

A Joint Chiefs of Staff official stated, "Our military is maintaining full readiness while strengthening surveillance and vigilance and closely cooperating between South Korea and the US. We are closely monitoring additional signs and activities from North Korea."

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