North Korea resumes missile tests, launches ballistics into East Sea

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

NORTH KOREA REMINDED THE WORLD OF ITS MISSILE PROGRAM THURSDAY, LAUNCHING SEVERAL SHORT-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILES FROM PYONGYANG THAT SOARED 220 MILES TOWARD THE EAST SEA OUTSIDE OF JAPAN’S EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE. THIS MARKED NORTH KOREA’S RETURN TO MISSILE TESTING AFTER A TWO-MONTH HIATUS.

THE LAUNCHES FOLLOWED AN UNUSUAL EPISODE WHERE THE NORTH SENT BALLOONS FILLED WITH TRASH –AND POO–ACROSS THE BORDER, ALTHOUGH MANY RETURNED DUE TO UNFAVORABLE WINDS.

NORTH KOREA LAST CONDUCTED A MISSILE TEST ON JULY 1, LAUNCHING A NEW TACTICAL BALLISTIC MISSILE THAT THE KIM REGIME SAYS IS CAPABLE OF CARRYING A 4.5-TON WARHEAD.

THE MISSILE LAUNCH COINCIDES WITH HEIGHTENED REGIONAL TENSIONS AND FOLLOWS NORTH KOREA’S PATTERN OF RESPONDING TO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURES AND MILITARY EXERCISES BETWEEN ITS ADVERSARIES.

SOUTH KOREA’S JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ARE ON HIGH ALERT FOR ADDITIONAL LAUNCHES AND CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH U.S. AND JAPANESE FORCES TO MONITOR THE SITUATION.

JAPAN CONFIRMED THE MISSILE TRAJECTORIES, NOTING THEY REACHED ALTITUDES OF AROUND 62 MILES. JAPAN EXPRESSED STRONG CONDEMNATION OF NORTH KOREA’S ACTIONS, HIGHLIGHTING THE THREAT TO BOTH JAPAN’S SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL STABILITY, AND AFFIRMED JAPAN’S COMMITMENT TO CLOSELY COOPERATE WITH THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA IN RESPONSE.

THE SOUTH KOREAN JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHARACTERIZED THE MISSILE LAUNCHES AS POTENTIAL RETALIATION AGAINST RECENT JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES WITH THE U.S., POSSIBLY SERVING ALSO AS DEMONSTRATIONS FOR RUSSIAN EXPERTS. THE SOUTH KOREAN MILITARY IS MAINTAINING HIGH ALERT FOR FURTHER PROVOCATIONS.

NUCLEAR ENVOYS FROM SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, AND THE UNITED STATES DENOUNCED NORTH KOREA’S RECENT ACTIONS AS VIOLATIONS OF U.N. RESOLUTIONS, PLEDGING A UNIFIED RESPONSE TO FURTHER PROVOCATIONS.

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