North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles Amid Tensions with US, South Korea, and Japan

North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles Amid Tensions with US, South Korea, and Japan

Dil Bar Irshad | July 1, 2024 | 11:13 PM IST | North korea, World | Follow on Google News

North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles Amid Tensions with US, South Korea, and Japan

North Korea Fires Two Ballistic Missiles Amid Tensions with US, South Korea, and Japan

Key Highlights:

1. Missile Launch and Failure: North Korea fires two ballistic missiles; second may have failed.
2. Military Drills Response: Launch follows joint military exercises by the US, South Korea, and Japan.
3. Debris Concerns: Possible debris from failed missile might have fallen inland.

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles on Monday, with South Korea’s military reporting that the second missile may have failed and potentially scattered debris inland, Al Jazeera reported. These launches occurred a day after North Korea vowed “offensive and overwhelming” responses to recent joint military drills by the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were launched 10 minutes apart from Jangyon in southeastern North Korea, heading in a northeasterly direction. The first missile reportedly flew 600 km, while the second traveled only 120 km, raising suspicions about its successful deployment. Typically, North Korea’s missile tests are aimed towards its eastern waters, but the short distance covered by the second missile suggests a malfunction. Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-joon mentioned that debris from the possible explosion would likely have scattered on the ground.

South Korean media, citing unidentified military sources, indicated that the second missile probably crashed in an inland area of North Korea, while the first missile landed in the waters near Chongjin, an eastern North Korean city. These launches were the first in five days and coincided with the conclusion of the “Freedom Edge” drills, new multi-domain military exercises involving the US, South Korea, and Japan. North Korea often perceives such drills as preparations for invasion and evidence of hostility.

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, explained in comments to Al Jazeera, “In both North Korean politics and military policy, the best defense is often a good offense. Pyongyang is also determined not to appear weak while South Korea conducts defense exercises with Japan and the United States.”

Last Wednesday, North Korea conducted a test of a “multiwarhead missile,” which it claimed was an advanced weapon capable of overcoming US and South Korean missile defenses. However, South Korea disputed this assertion.

Source: Al Jazeera

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.