North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Sunday. The South Korean General Staff said the missile was fired eastward into the sea. It was initially unclear what kind of rocket it was. The missile launch came days after a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier arrived in the region for joint military exercises with South Korea.
There are signs that Pyongyang is preparing to launch a ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine, the president’s office in Seoul said on Saturday. Pyongyang had already done such a test in May.
Repeated weapons tests since the beginning of the year
North Korea has conducted numerous weapons tests since the beginning of the year, including one using an ICBM. South Korea and the US fear Pyongyang is preparing a nuclear weapons test. It would be the first such test since 2017. North Korea has tested six nuclear weapons since 2006.
The Japanese Coast Guard also confirmed the launch of a suspected ballistic missile on Sunday, citing information from Japan’s Defense Ministry. Public broadcaster NHK reported that an object outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone appeared to have fallen into the sea.
military exercise with the United States
On Friday, a US aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea for the first time in about five years. The arrival of the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan and several escort ships in the port city of Busan demonstrates the “strength of the alliance between South Korea and the United States,” a defense ministry official in Seoul told AFP news agency. The exercise aims to send a signal of strength to internationally isolated North Korea.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was sworn in in May, wants to increase the number of joint maneuvers with the United States amid ongoing tensions with Pyongyang. According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, the planned exercise should “deter North Korea from threats with nuclear weapons and missiles”.
US Vice President Visits Seoul
Yoon will meet on Thursday with US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is visiting Seoul next week. South Korea and the United States fear Pyongyang could test nuclear weapons for the first time since 2017.
Washington is Seoul’s main military ally. About 28,500 American soldiers are stationed in South Korea. The two countries have carried out many joint maneuvers. While the US and South Korea insist on their defensive nature, North Korea sees it as an invasion exercise.
North Korea tightens nuclear policy
Since the beginning of the year, Pyongyang has tested more weapons systems than ever before. On September 9, the authoritarian country published a law declaring a preemptive nuclear attack permissible. Pyongyang also ruled out nuclear disarmament in the country.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
