(PatriotSpotlight.org) – North Korea launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters early Monday. The actions have created fresh tensions mere days after the conclusion of joint military exercises undertaken by South Korea and the United States. North Korea’s actions are likely a response to the U.S. actions alongside its southern neighbor, which it regards as a rehearsal for invasion, and marks the country’s first missile testing in around a month.
Japanese officials said that North Korea fired a trio of missiles. Two were simultaneously launched at 7:44 a.m., followed by a third around 37 minutes later. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that all the fired missiles descended into waters between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, well beyond Japan’s economic zone. No damage or injuries were reported.
Prime Minister Kishida slammed the actions during a parliamentary session later on Monday, stressing that such operations violate U.N. Security Council resolutions and threaten the peace and safety of Japan.
Nearby South Korea also detected a number of suspected short-range ballistic missiles deployed by North Korea on Monday morning. South Korea’s military officials described the missiles as “clear provocations” which brought the current peace on the peninsula in jeopardy. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reiterated the country’s commitment to respond to any future provocation by Pyongyang and stressed its long-standing military alliance with the United States. Japanese and South Korean analysis suggests that the missiles launched from North Korea’s capital region earlier this week traveled between 300 to 350 kilometers (km).
The U.S. also chimed in to slam Pyogyang’s behavior, with the U.S. The State Department publicly stating its commitment to defending the sovereignty and safety of both South Korea and Japan. The U.S. has some 80,000 troops stationed in the region. The spate of missile tests comes following North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s oversight of military training exercises with tanks, artillery, and paratroopers throughout the South Korea-U.S. joint drills.
Copyright 2024, PatriotSpotlight.org
