While South Korea and the United States undertake their largest military drills in years, North Korea has launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the waters off its east coast, marking the country’s second show of force this week.
The missiles were launched within a 10-minute window beginning at 7:41 a.m. local time on Tuesday (22:41 GMT on Monday), according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea.
By tight collaboration between South Korea and the United States, our military has increased monitoring and vigilance in preparation for more launches while maintaining a full readiness posture, according to the JCS statement.
Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, stated that his country was gathering data regarding the missile.
The most recent test by Pyongyang, which is the second in three days, occurred as the US and South Korea conducted the massive “Freedom Shield” military drills, which are scheduled to last through March 23. This is the first time since 2018 that they have conducted the drills, which North Korea views as a practice for an invasion.
The submarine launch was discovered on Sunday evening, according to South Korea, and the next day, two submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles were tested, according to North Korean state media.
In order to prevent and prepare for a “real war,” if required, leader Kim Jong Un ordered the military to step up training earlier this month.
With intercontinental ballistic missiles with a potential range to strike the US mainland and short-range, nuclear-capable missiles that may strike South Korea, North Korea tested more than 70 missiles in 2022.
According to the US and South Korea, the Freedom Shield drills would “involve wartime procedures to repel future North Korean strikes and conduct a stabilization operation in the North” and will focus on the “changing security environment” brought on by North Korea’s increased hostility.
The drills are a “defensive one based on a joint operational plan,” the allies have emphasized.
Experts have predicted that North Korea would use the drills as justification for additional missile launches and possibly even a nuclear test.
“Additional missile launches with different styles and ranges, as well as a nuclear test, should be anticipated. Further intimidation from North Korea shouldn’t be unexpected, according to former South Korean army general Chun In-bum, who spoke to the AFP news agency.
