North Korea has fired another nuclear-powered missile with a range of several thousand kilometers, according to the South Korean military. The military detected the launch of a ballistic missile in North Korea on Friday heading toward the Baltic Sea, the general staff in the capital Seoul said. The missile fell into the sea about 210 km west of the main Japanese island of Hokkaido. A clear provocation for Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is currently at the APEC summit in Bangkok, Thailand, has strongly condemned the renewed missile launch. North Korea’s provocations are “unacceptable,” Kishida said. US Vice President Kamala Harris called an emergency meeting with the top representatives of Japan and South Korea in Bangkok at short notice. Australia, Canada and New Zealand should also participate.
According to South Korean and Japanese information, the projectile was likely an ICBM. Kishida was quoted by Japanese media as saying it likely perished in the sea within Japan’s exclusive economic zone. However, there are no reports of damage to aircraft or ships. No details about the flight duration and distance were initially known from the South Korean side.
Action radius at least 5500 kilometers
UN resolutions prohibit the self-declared nuclear power North Korea from testing ballistic missiles of any range, which can carry one or more nuclear warheads, depending on the design. ICBMs contain missiles with a range of at least 5500 kilometers. The development of long-range strategic missiles is particularly aimed at the United States, which Pyongyang accuses of hostile policies.
South Korea’s military believes its shielded neighbor last shot down an ICBM in early November. At the time, problems would have arisen after the launch phase. The Tokyo government says the missile has disappeared from radar over the Sea of Japan.
40 missile tests since the start of the year
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are escalating at the moment. More than 50 North Korean missile tests have been conducted since the beginning of the year – South Korea’s military recorded more than 25 in early November alone. The latest missile tests were also seen as a response to joint maneuvers by South Korean and US troops. Experts fear that tensions will continue to escalate and that even the slightest miscalculation on both sides could have the most dangerous consequences.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
