[Summary] North Korea Launches Medium-Long Range Ballistic Missiles and Above

by Yang Nakgyu

Published 13 Apr.2023 09:37(KST)

On the 13th, North Korea launched a medium-range or longer ballistic missile into the East Sea. This is the first missile launch since cutting off communication channels with the South, including military hotlines, raising concerns that it may be resuming high-intensity provocations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "At around 7:23 a.m. on this day, one medium-range or longer ballistic missile launched from near Pyongyang toward the East Sea was detected."

The missile was launched near Pyongyang. It does not appear to be the military reconnaissance satellite that North Korea had declared it would complete preparations for by April. When North Korea has claimed satellite launches in the past, they have been launched from Dongchang-ri. However, the possibility that it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) cannot be ruled out. The military is currently verifying whether it was an existing Hwasong-17 or Hwasong-15 type, or a new solid-fuel based ICBM unveiled by North Korea at the military parade on February 8, marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army.

This missile launch occurred six days after North Korea stopped responding to regular calls via the inter-Korean joint liaison office and the West and East Sea military hotlines starting from the 7th. There are also forecasts that North Korea is trying to push the situation into a full-fledged 'strong versus strong' confrontation.

The day also falls two days before the 111th anniversary of the Day of the Sun (April 15), which is Kim Il-sung's birthday, and marks the 11th anniversary of Kim Jong-un's appointment as the First Chairman of the National Defense Commission. Considering these April commemorative dates, North Korea, which is intensifying the idolization of Kim Jong-un, may have scheduled the provocation accordingly.