geopolitics The projectile was fired towards the Sea of Japan on Saturday morning
Kim Jong-un on December 30, 2022. — /AP/SIPA
North Korea has launched; at least one ballistic missile on Saturday heading for the Sea of Japan, according to the South Korean army, a new episode in the rise in tensions between the two neighbors a few days after a five-day incursion Pyongyang drones in Seoul airspace.
“North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile; in the East Sea,” South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, referring to the Korean name for the Sea of Japan. In Tokyo, the Ministry of Defense also tweeted about the launch of “what appears to be a ballistic missile”.
The new launch comes five days after the incursion of five North Korean drones into southern airspace, one of which had reached north of the capital Seoul. Despite deployment of fighter jets and attack helicopters for five hours, the South Korean army had failed; to intercept these drones, which caused many reviews.
“Harsh consequences”
This aerial incursion, the first of its kind in five years, was described as “intolerable” by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who promised to make it clear to North Korea that “provocations will always have harsh consequences” for her. On Thursday, the Southern Army carried out exercises to strengthen its anti-drone defense, according to the general staff.
The new missile launch also comes during a major annual meeting of the Workers’ Party in power, during which leader Kim Jong-un and other high-ranking dignitaries present their political objectives for 2023 in key areas such as diplomacy, security and government. and the economy.
Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has been increasing its weapons tests. In particular, it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in March for the first time in five years. Another North Korean ICBM fell off Japan on November 18. From September 25 to October 9, Pyongyang conducted to a salvo of missile tests, one of which flew over the Japan, which was also a first since 2017.
“Tactical nuclear simulations”
The regime presented this series of tests, personally supervised by Kim Jong-un, as “tactical nuclear simulations” in “real war” Then, at the beginning of November, the North again launched; within days dozens of missiles, one of which fell; very close to the territorial waters of South Korea, bringing the South Korean president to denounce a “de facto territorial invasion”.
The North Korean regime has claimed that these fires were a response to the largest American-South Korean air maneuvers in history, which were taking place at the same time in the South.
During a parade military giant at the end of April to Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un had promised to develop the country“s nuclear forces “ as fast as possible.” Seoul and Washington have since North Korea intends to carry out a nuclear test, which would be the first since 2017 and the seventh in its history. North Korean leaders say a credible nuclear deterrent is essential to the survival of their country, which claims to be constantly threatened; of aggression by the United States.
For their part, the United States, South Korea and Japan have reinforced their military cooperation and joint maneuvers in the face of North Korean threats, especially since Pyongyang’s announcement in September of a new doctrine making “irreversible” its status as a nuclear power and authorizing it to conduct a preemptive atomic strike in the event of an existential threat to his regime. But this reinforcement irritated even more North Korea which, through its Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, promised mid-November “fierce”reprisals” if it continued.