North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday, raising concerns in the region. The launch coincided with a visit by Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya to South Korea and comes ahead of the return of former US President Donald Trump to office next week. Experts believe the launch could be a message of pressure ahead of Trump's second term and to assert Pyongyang's presence.
North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday, according to South Korea 's military. This development comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Japan ese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visiting South Korea for talks on strengthening bilateral ties before the return of former US President Donald Trump to office next week. Seoul's military detected the missiles around 9:30 am local time (0030 GMT) near North Korea 's Ganggye area.
The missiles traveled approximately 250 kilometers before landing in the sea. Seoul maintained 'full readiness' and shared information with Washington and Tokyo, while US Indo-Pacific Command condemned the test, urging North Korea to 'refrain from further unlawful and destabilising acts'. Acting South Korean President Choi Sang-mok also criticized the launch, stating it violated UN Security Council resolutions and vowing a stronger response to North Korean provocations. Experts suggest the launch could be a message to exert pressure ahead of Trump's second term. Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, stated the launch might indicate an intention to put pressure before the Trump administration's second term. Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher at the World Institute for North Korea Studies, echoed this sentiment, adding that the test could be an attempt to assert Pyongyang's presence. This launch marks Pyongyang's second missile test this month following the purported launch of a new hypersonic missile system last week.Images released by North Korean state media KCNA showed leader Kim Jong Un observing the launch with his daughter, Ju Ae. KCNA claimed the use of a 'new compound of carbon fibre' in the missile's engine, a technology experts warn could allow Pyongyang to hit further targets with capabilities currently possessed only by the United States, Russia, and China. The recent missile launches come amidst strained relations between North and South Korea. Last year, North Korea launched a series of ballistic missiles in violation of UN sanctions, prompting South Korea to initiate the development of a new missile defense system. The 567.7 billion won (US$388 million) system, scheduled for completion by 2028, aims to intercept North Korean nuclear and missile threats at higher altitudes.Adding another layer of complexity, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a visit to South Korea last week, expressed concern over increasing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, particularly in advanced space technology. Ahn suggested another reason for Tuesday's launch could be the testing of missiles for export to Russia for potential use in the Ukraine conflict. In October, North Korea test-fired what it claimed was its most advanced and powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), followed by a volley of short-range ballistic missiles days later. US and South Korean intelligence believe North Korea has also sent thousands of troops to fight in Ukraine, resulting in hundreds of casualties.
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