[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] North Korean Ballistic Missile Hits East Sea After 570km Flight

Military Authorities "Suspected Short-Range Ballistic Missile... Analyzing Specifications"
Trilateral Ballistic Missile Information Sharing Among South Korea, US, and Japan... "Maintaining Readiness"

On the 17th, the 12th anniversary of Kim Jong-il's death, North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea. This was the first ballistic missile launch by North Korea in 26 days since the 22nd of last month.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 18th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "At around 22:38 on the previous day, we detected one ballistic missile presumed to have been launched from the Pyongyang area into the East Sea," adding, "The ballistic missile flew approximately 570 km before landing in the East Sea."

They continued, "Our military has been tracking preparations for the ballistic missile launch and is maintaining full readiness by sharing information related to North Korea's ballistic missiles with the US and Japan." The military is currently analyzing the missile's flight distance, altitude, speed, and other specifications.

This provocation by North Korea appears to be intended to pick a fight over the decisions made at the 2nd North Korea?US Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting. At this meeting, South Korea and the US agreed to conduct nuclear operation exercises during the joint South Korea-US military exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' (UFS) scheduled for August next year, in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

Notably, the day of the provocation was the 12th anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-un's father, Kim Jong-il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, leading to interpretations that North Korea aims to showcase its defense capabilities domestically to foster unity among its people. On the morning of the same day, the Rodong Sinmun published an article praising Kim Jong-il's achievements in strengthening national defense, stating that Kim Jong-il possessed "an iron will that one can live without candy but cannot live without bullets," and that during his rule, "the historic national mission of acquiring nuclear weapons was accomplished."

The military has been closely monitoring the possibility of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) provocations recently. Earlier, Kim Tae-hyo, the 1st Deputy Director of the National Security Office, said to reporters upon arriving in the US on the 14th of this month (local time) to attend the 2nd North Korea?US Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting, "I believe there is a possibility of North Korea launching an ICBM in December."

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