North Korea fires ballistic missile amid rising animosities May 5, 2022 North Korea launches ballistic missile amid escalating hostilities<br /> 05 May 2022 Creation time: 06:42 AM Last update: 06:42 AM Views: 30 Seoul, May 5 (BNA) – South Korean and Japanese officials said that North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards its eastern waters, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to accelerate the development of his nuclear weapons “as quickly as possible. They threatened to use them against competitors.” The launch, the North’s 14th round of weapons launches this year, came six days before a new conservative South Korean president took office for one five-year term, the Associated Press reported. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched from the northern capital region and headed toward waters off the east coast. It described North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile launches as a “serious threat” that would undermine international peace and security and violate UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting any ballistic launch by North Korea. The statement said Won In-chul, chief of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, held a video conference on the launch with General Paul LaCamera, the US general who heads the South Korea-US Joint Forces Command in Seoul, and they agreed to maintain a solid joint defense posture. Japan also spotted the North Korean launch and quickly condemned it. “The series of measures taken by North Korea that threaten the peace, safety and stability of the international community are not permissible,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters during his visit to Rome. Kishida said he will discuss the launch when he meets Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi later Wednesday. “Of course, we will exchange views on the regional situation in the Indo-Pacific and East Asia, and I will accurately explain the reality of the region, including today’s North Korean missile launch, to understand the urgent situation in East Asia,” he said. Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Makoto Oniki said he believed the missile landed in waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. There were no reports of damages or injuries from ships and aircraft in the area. It was not immediately known what missile North Korea fired. South Korea’s military said the missile flew about 470 kilometers (290 miles) at a peak of 780 kilometers (485 miles), while Japan’s Oniki said it traveled about 500 kilometers (310 miles) at a maximum altitude of 800 kilometers (500 miles). . Observers say North Korea’s unusual speed of weapons testing this year underscores its dual goal of boosting its missile programs and putting pressure on Washington to deepen the freeze on nuclear negotiations. They say Kim ultimately aims to use his expanded arsenal to win international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state that he believes will help compel the United States to ease international economic sanctions on North Korea. One of the North Korean missiles recently tested was an ICBM capable of reaching the entire American homeland. The launch of this missile broke Kim’s self-imposed decision in 2018 to test large-scale weapons. There are indications that North Korea is also preparing to conduct a nuclear test at the remote Northeast Test Facility. If North Korea’s nuclear bomb test were to take place, it would be the seventh of its kind and the first since 2017. Last week, Kim Jong Un displayed his most powerful nuclear-capable missiles that targeted both the United States and its allies during a massive military parade in the capital, Pyongyang. During a speech at the parade, Kim said he would develop his arsenal “as quickly as possible” and warned that North Korea would use its nuclear weapons proactively if its national interests were threatened. North Korea had previously issued sharp statements threatening to attack its rivals with its nuclear weapons. But the fact that Kim made the threat himself and in such a detailed manner has caused security tensions among some South Koreans. Given North Korea’s recent tests of short-range nuclear-capable missiles, some experts speculate that North Korea’s potential escalatory nuclear doctrine will allow it to launch preemptive nuclear strikes on South Korea in some cases. Wednesday’s launch came ahead of the May 10 inauguration of South Korean President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, who vowed to boost Seoul’s missile capability and solidify his military alliance with Washington to better deal with North Korea’s growing nuclear threats. North Korea has a history of fomenting hostilities through weapons tests when Seoul and Washington inaugurated two new governments in an apparent attempt to bolster its influence in future negotiations. The Yoon Power Transfer Office called North Korea’s latest firing a “serious provocation” and urged Pyongyang to stop actions that raise tensions and threaten international peace. It said in a statement that the Yoon government will respond forcefully to North Korean provocations in close cooperation with the international community. Some experts say the Biden administration’s negative handling of North Korea because it focuses on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and intense rivalry with China gives North Korea more room to expand its military capabilities. The Biden administration’s actions on North Korea have so far been limited to largely symbolic sanctions and offers of open talks. North Korea has rejected the administration’s offer of talks, saying it must first abandon its “hostile policy,” an apparent reference to US-led international sanctions and joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. Source link Related READ MORE Germany wrap up year with win as North Macedonia reach play-offs
05 May 2022 Creation time: 06:42 AM Last update: 06:42 AM Views: 30 Seoul, May 5 (BNA) – South Korean and Japanese officials said that North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards its eastern waters, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to accelerate the development of his nuclear weapons “as quickly as possible. They threatened to use them against competitors.” The launch, the North’s 14th round of weapons launches this year, came six days before a new conservative South Korean president took office for one five-year term, the Associated Press reported. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched from the northern capital region and headed toward waters off the east coast. It described North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile launches as a “serious threat” that would undermine international peace and security and violate UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting any ballistic launch by North Korea. The statement said Won In-chul, chief of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, held a video conference on the launch with General Paul LaCamera, the US general who heads the South Korea-US Joint Forces Command in Seoul, and they agreed to maintain a solid joint defense posture. Japan also spotted the North Korean launch and quickly condemned it. “The series of measures taken by North Korea that threaten the peace, safety and stability of the international community are not permissible,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters during his visit to Rome. Kishida said he will discuss the launch when he meets Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi later Wednesday. “Of course, we will exchange views on the regional situation in the Indo-Pacific and East Asia, and I will accurately explain the reality of the region, including today’s North Korean missile launch, to understand the urgent situation in East Asia,” he said. Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Makoto Oniki said he believed the missile landed in waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. There were no reports of damages or injuries from ships and aircraft in the area. It was not immediately known what missile North Korea fired. South Korea’s military said the missile flew about 470 kilometers (290 miles) at a peak of 780 kilometers (485 miles), while Japan’s Oniki said it traveled about 500 kilometers (310 miles) at a maximum altitude of 800 kilometers (500 miles). . Observers say North Korea’s unusual speed of weapons testing this year underscores its dual goal of boosting its missile programs and putting pressure on Washington to deepen the freeze on nuclear negotiations. They say Kim ultimately aims to use his expanded arsenal to win international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state that he believes will help compel the United States to ease international economic sanctions on North Korea. One of the North Korean missiles recently tested was an ICBM capable of reaching the entire American homeland. The launch of this missile broke Kim’s self-imposed decision in 2018 to test large-scale weapons. There are indications that North Korea is also preparing to conduct a nuclear test at the remote Northeast Test Facility. If North Korea’s nuclear bomb test were to take place, it would be the seventh of its kind and the first since 2017. Last week, Kim Jong Un displayed his most powerful nuclear-capable missiles that targeted both the United States and its allies during a massive military parade in the capital, Pyongyang. During a speech at the parade, Kim said he would develop his arsenal “as quickly as possible” and warned that North Korea would use its nuclear weapons proactively if its national interests were threatened. North Korea had previously issued sharp statements threatening to attack its rivals with its nuclear weapons. But the fact that Kim made the threat himself and in such a detailed manner has caused security tensions among some South Koreans. Given North Korea’s recent tests of short-range nuclear-capable missiles, some experts speculate that North Korea’s potential escalatory nuclear doctrine will allow it to launch preemptive nuclear strikes on South Korea in some cases. Wednesday’s launch came ahead of the May 10 inauguration of South Korean President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, who vowed to boost Seoul’s missile capability and solidify his military alliance with Washington to better deal with North Korea’s growing nuclear threats. North Korea has a history of fomenting hostilities through weapons tests when Seoul and Washington inaugurated two new governments in an apparent attempt to bolster its influence in future negotiations. The Yoon Power Transfer Office called North Korea’s latest firing a “serious provocation” and urged Pyongyang to stop actions that raise tensions and threaten international peace. It said in a statement that the Yoon government will respond forcefully to North Korean provocations in close cooperation with the international community. Some experts say the Biden administration’s negative handling of North Korea because it focuses on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and intense rivalry with China gives North Korea more room to expand its military capabilities. The Biden administration’s actions on North Korea have so far been limited to largely symbolic sanctions and offers of open talks. North Korea has rejected the administration’s offer of talks, saying it must first abandon its “hostile policy,” an apparent reference to US-led international sanctions and joint military exercises between the US and South Korea.
