The United States on Thursday condemned North Korea’s firing of a ballistic missile that Seoul said failed, after a record salvo of projectiles that raised tension in the region. On Wednesday, Pyongyang had already fired 23 missiles, one of which had crossed the “Northern Limit Line”.
The United States on Thursday condemned North Korea’s firing of a ballistic missile that Seoul said failed, after a record salvo of projectiles that raised tension in the region. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin denounced “the illegal and destabilizing firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile last night as well as additional missile firings today”, during a joint press conference with his South American counterpart. Korean Lee Jong-Sup.
Washington and Seoul had announced to extend the air exercises between their two countries, the largest ever organized, because of “recent provocations” by North Korea. “Our alliance is ironclad” and “we will continue to work closely together to develop options (to) protect the United States and our allies in the region,” Lloyd Austin added.
23 missiles already fired on Wednesday
According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first three projectiles – two short-range missiles followed by an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) – were launched Thursday morning from the north towards the Sea of Japan. “The launch of an ICBM by North Korea was likely to end in failure” during the separation of the second stage of the rocket, said the South Korean army.
On Wednesday, North Korea had already fired 23 missiles, one of which had crossed the “Northern Limit Line” (NLL) which extends the inter-Korean land border at sea, while remaining in international waters.