[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] North Korea Launches ICBM After 5 Months

The 5th ICBM This Year... Tension on the Korean Peninsula Tightens

On the 18th, North Korea launched a ballistic missile presumed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea. This marks the fifth ICBM launch by North Korea this year, occurring about five months after the test launch of the new solid-fuel ICBM Hwasong-18 on July 12.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that "at around 8:24 a.m. today, one long-range ballistic missile presumed to have been launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea was detected."

Despite international warnings, North Korea has launched reconnaissance satellites and effectively nullified the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, and now with the ICBM launch, military tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula have further escalated. North Korea's launch of a short-range ballistic missile last night followed by an ICBM today is interpreted as a backlash against the increasing pressure from South Korea and the United States.

Last week, South Korea and the U.S. held a Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting and agreed to conduct nuclear operation exercises during the joint military drills scheduled for August next year to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. In response, North Korea appears to be demonstrating its ICBM capabilities capable of directly striking the U.S. as a show of force. The NCG meeting was held in Washington on the 15th (local time), where it was agreed to conduct nuclear operation exercises during the 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' joint drills in August next year.

North Korea's Ministry of Defense harshly criticized the NCG meeting results as a "blatant declaration of nuclear confrontation" in a spokesperson's statement released last night. North Korea has also expressed dissatisfaction with South Korea, the U.S., and Japan's plan to activate a real-time missile warning information sharing system for North Korean missiles within this year.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "Our military has raised its alert posture and is maintaining full readiness while closely sharing information related to 'North Korean ballistic missiles' with U.S. and Japanese authorities."

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