South Korea, the United States and Japan activated a real-time data sharing system on North Korean missile launches on Tuesday, December 19, Seoul announced, with the three countries seeking to strengthen their cooperation in the face of in Pyongyang. North Korea fired its Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile the day before, the most powerful weapon in its arsenal.
“Full operational capability of North Korean real-time missile warning data sharing system confirmed”said the South Korean Ministry of Defense, in a press release, adding that the device “currently functioning normally”. “The three countries implemented this system to ensure the security of their citizens by detecting and evaluating missiles launched by North Korea in real time”continues the ministry.
This data sharing system was decided last month by the defense ministers of the three countries, who also agreed on a program of trilateral military exercises. These agreements resulted from a meeting of the three heads of state at Camp David in August, at the invitation of American President Joe Biden.
A shot supervised by Kim Jong-un himself
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who personally oversaw the latest launch, said it demonstrated the options available to Pyongyang if “Washington made a bad decision”.
Seoul and Washington have strengthened defense cooperation in the face of a record series of weapons tests carried out by Pyongyang this year. South Korea’s conservative government of President Yoon Suk Yeol is also working to strengthen historically strained ties with Japan, which occupied the Korean peninsula during the first half of the 20th century.e century. The Camp David meeting was the first full-fledged summit bringing together the three leaders.