North Korea launches two ballistic missiles as test resumes

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles into eastern waters on Sunday. This he said was the first weapons test in a month and conducted a major test needed to build a more maneuverable and powerful intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike North Korea. It’s been two days since he made the claim. Continental US.

The South Korean military has confirmed that two North Korean ballistic missiles were launched from northwestern Dongchang-ri. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile flew across the country toward eastern waters.

It said the missiles were fired about 50 minutes apart, but did not provide details such as the exact type of weapon North Korea launched or the distance it flew. He said he was working closely with the United States to maintain readiness.

A Japanese official said two missiles fell into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, with no reports of damage to ships or casualties. It said both missiles flew 500 kilometers (310 miles) at a maximum altitude of 550 kilometers (340 miles). He criticized North Korea for threatening the security of Japan, the region and the international community.

The Tongchang-ri area is home to North Korea’s Sohae satellite launch site, and in recent years North Korea has launched long-range rockets carrying satellites in what the United Nations called a camouflage test of ICBM technology.

North Korea said Friday it had tested a “high-thrust solid-fuel motor” for a new strategic weapon at its West Sea facility the day before. An intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the mainland United States.

Sunday’s launch is the first public weapons test since North Korea launched last month the liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM it is developing, the longest-range liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM capable of reaching the entire continental United States. Earlier this year, North Korea tested a variety of other missiles at a record pace despite pandemic-related economic hardships and pressure to curb its US-led nuclear program.

North Korea has defended its nuclear tests as a means of self-defense to deal with growing US-South Korea military exercises it sees as rehearsals for aggression. But some experts say North Korea likely used rival military training as a pretext to expand its arsenal of weapons and gain leverage in future negotiations with the United States to win sanctions relief and other concessions. said.

“Faced with mounting diplomatic pressure after an unprecedented year of North Korean missile tests, the Kim regime has shown weakness ahead of New Year’s political events,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. I have decided not to.

The weapons North Korea said it could build on recently tested motors most likely refer to solid-fuel ICBMs… Other weapon systems Kim Jong-un has promised to build include multiple warhead missiles. , water-launched nuclear missiles, and reconnaissance satellites.

All of North Korea’s existing intercontinental ballistic missiles use liquid propellant, which must be added before launch. This makes it relatively easy for outsiders to find the launch readiness via satellite. But a solid propellant rocket’s fuel is already loaded inside, which reduces launch preparation time, increases maneuverability, and makes it difficult for outsiders to know what’s going on before launch. North Korea already has a growing arsenal of short-range solid-fuel ballistic missiles that target key locations in South Korea, including US military bases there.

In response to North Korea’s test activity, South Korean and US militaries have expanded their routine exercises and resumed trilateral exercises with Japan. However, as North Korea threatens a first use of its nuclear weapons and has taken reported steps to deploy and test nuclear-capable short-range missiles along its border with South Korea, security concerns regarding North Korea’s nuclear weapons have risen. Security concerns are growing in South Korea and Japan. Launch missiles over Japan.

The exact status of North Korea’s nuclear strike capabilities remains a secret.

Some experts speculate that North Korea already has functioning nuclear warhead missiles capable of hitting the entire United States and its allies South Korea and Japan, given the number of years North Korea has spent on its nuclear program. there is But countries are still years away from having such weapons, and they are still years away from building warheads small enough to fit on missiles or protecting them from the harsh conditions of atmospheric re-entry. Some have pointed out that they have yet to publicly prove that they have the technology to do so.