SEOUL: In a significant development, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles, as confirmed by the South Korean military on Wednesday. This event unfolded while the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, was in Russia ahead of a scheduled summit with President Vladimir Putin. The missiles were launched from the Sunan area, heading towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, between 11:43 and 11:53 local time.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea released a statement, stating, “Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for further launches while maintaining full readiness by closely cooperating with the US.” This launch prompted heightened alert levels in the region.
Japan’s coast guard also confirmed that two ballistic missiles were launched by North Korea. Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s top government spokesman, mentioned that the missiles appeared to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, but further analysis was needed to determine the exact details of the incident.
What makes this missile launch particularly intriguing is that it occurred while Kim Jong Un was abroad. US-based analyst Ankit Panda noted, “Fascinating: a launch without Kim Jong (Un) in the country. A first.” Since 2019, Kim Jong Un had notably stopped attending every single publicized missile launch, often keeping his presence deliberately obscured. However, previous launches still occurred with Kim present in North Korea, making this event a notable departure from the norm.
The motivations behind North Korea’s continued missile tests remain complex. Experts suggest that North Korea seeks to modernize its Soviet-era equipment, particularly its air force and navy, and that it may be looking for assistance in this regard. In return, Russia has shown interest in acquiring North Korea’s stockpile of artillery shells, which could potentially be used in Ukraine. These developments highlight the intricate geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.
This recent missile launch follows a series of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea earlier in the year, with the most recent one involving two short-range ballistic missiles on August 30. Additionally, North Korea experienced a setback last month when it failed in its second attempt to place a spy satellite into orbit.
