North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles on Monday, one of which failed, the South Korean military said, a day after Pyongyang warned of “fatal consequences” that could result from joint exercises by Seoul and its allies. A first short-range projectile was launched at 05:05 local time (2005 GMT), followed by a second 10 minutes later, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
“The (first) short-range ballistic missile flew about 600 kilometers,” the statement said, adding that the second flew 120 kilometers. “One of the missiles, which failed, may have flown abnormally, and it cannot be ruled out that it fell to the ground,” the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement. Lee Sung-jun, a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said if the missile exploded in mid-air, debris could have landed in North Korea, based on its trajectory. “Our military has stepped up surveillance in anticipation of further launches,” the source said, adding that it had passed on information about the incidents to the United States and Japan.
North Korea claims to have successfully tested a multi-warhead missile
North Korea is accused of violating several UN resolutions by supplying weapons to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine. Seoul is concerned about a rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea in June to meet with leader Kim Jong Un and the two countries signed a mutual defense agreement.
Asked whether the latest launch was a test of missiles aimed at Russia, the Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman declined to comment. The launches come days after North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a multiple-warhead missile, with South Korea saying the projectile exploded in flight. Pyongyang on Sunday denounced the joint military exercises by South Korea, Japan and the United States, calling the alliance “the Asian version of NATO” and warning of “fatal consequences.”
These three days of military exercises, called “Freedom Edge”, took place from Thursday to Sunday last week. They focused on air defense, submarine warfare and cyber defense and were also intended to prepare for ballistic missile launches. The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Japanese guided-missile destroyer JS Atago and South Korean KF-16 fighter jet were deployed for the exercises.
“Pyongyang is determined not to appear weak”
Pyongyang systematically criticizes this type of military maneuvers which it considers intended to prepare for an invasion of its territory. Seoul rejected Pyongyang’s accusations on Sunday, stressing that these latest exercises were carried out as part of joint exercises regularly organized between the three allied countries. A major ruling party meeting is being held in North Korea, opened by leader Kim Jong Un, state media said Saturday.
“In both North Korea policy and military policy, the best defense is often a good offense,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. “These missile launches are probably the way for Mr. Kim’s regime to compensate for recent failed tests and to impress the population during ruling party meetings,” he also said, adding: “Pyongyang is also determined not to appear weak as South Korea conducts military exercises with Japan and the United States.”
Relations between the two Koreas are at their lowest in years, with Pyongyang stepping up weapons testing and sending balloons filled with trash toward the South in retaliation for South Korea’s propaganda campaigns against the North Korean regime.