Monday 17 January 2022
For the fourth time in 2022
North Korea undertakes new weapons test
North Korea appears to be conducting its fourth missile test of the year. The South Korean military reports at least one projectile fired towards the sea. We’re talking about a ballistic missile.
North Korea has again fired an “unidentified projectile”, according to the South Korean military. As the general staff in Seoul announced on Monday, the projectile flew into the sea east of the Korean peninsula. The Japanese Coast Guard also confirmed the incident. “North Korea appears to have launched a possible ballistic missile,” said a Japan Coast Guard spokesman, without giving further details on the trajectory. UN resolutions prohibit the self-declared nuclear power North Korea from testing ballistic missiles.
It was apparently the fourth missile test since the beginning of the year. North Korea fired two guided missiles from a train on Friday. In addition, the military is said to have tested hypersonic missiles on January 5th and 11th. As a result, the United States last Wednesday imposed sanctions on five North Koreans allegedly responsible for procuring goods for North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and missile programs. Hypersonic missiles can travel more than five times the speed of sound and are maneuverable in flight. This makes them difficult for conventional air defense to detect and intercept.
North Korea has been isolated internationally for years because of its nuclear and missile program. When criticized, Pyongyang always refers to its “right to self-defense” against threats, particularly from the United States. The United States has been trying to reach a diplomatic agreement for years without success.